IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO START A YOGA PRACTICE, OR TO BUILD YOUR PRACTICE, THERE ARE FUTHER OPTIONS FOR YOU.
HATHA YOGA
ASHTANGA YOGA
KUNDALINI YOGA

HATHA YOGA

The origins of Hatha yoga have been traced back to the eleventh century A.D. The Sanskrit word ha means "sun" and tha means "moon," and thus Hatha, or literally sun-moon yoga, strives to balance opposing parts of the physical body, the front and back, left and right, top and bottom. Some yoga masters (yogis) claim that Hatha yoga was originally developed by enlightened teachers to help people survive during the Age of Kali, or the spiritual dark ages, in which Hindus believe we are now living.

KEY BENEFITS

Mental and Emotional Goals
Increase appreciation for the miracle that is our body and its healing powers.
Learn healthy ways to create relaxation.
Increase awareness for body limitations and learn when to challenge the body to move to new levels of fitness.
Notice and mark the body's progressive improvement in functioning.


Physical Goals
Stretch shortened muscles and return blood flow to healing areas of the body.
Promote balanced breathing and awareness of the breath and it's relationship to the flow of energy in the body.
Learn to use the breath to relax and lessen discomfort.
Learn how to rise comfortably from a prone position or a posture that challenges healing parts of the body.
Increase the range of motion available to the body.
Enjoy the movement and rest of the body again.

Spiritual Goals
Assist the body-mind to come into harmony and greater ease.
Become familiar with the spiritual teachings of yoga and enjoy the benefits of meditation.
Class will include a revitalizing relaxation session before closing.

 The term viṅyāsa refers to the alignment of movement and breath, a method which turns static yoga postures into a dynamic flow. The length of one inhale or one exhale dictates the length of time spent transitioning between postures. Poses are then held for a predefined number of breaths. In effect, attention is placed on the breath and the journey between the postures rather than solely on achieving perfect body alignment in a pose, as is emphasized in Hatha yoga.
 
The term vinyasa also refers to a specific series of movements that are frequently done between each pose in a series. This viṅyāsa 'flow' is a variant of Sūrya namaskāra, the Sun Salutation, and is used in other styles of yoga beside Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. A standard viṅyāsa consists (for example) of the flow from caturaṅga, or plank, to caturaṅga daṇḍāsana, or low plank, to ūrdhva mukha śvānāsana or upward-facing dog, to Adho Mukha Svanasana, or downward-facing dog.

The breathing style used in Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is Ujjayi which is a relaxed diaphragmatic style of breathing, characterized by an ocean sound which resonates in the practitioner's throat. Throughout a practice, this specific breathing style is maintained in alignment with movements. The steady cycle of inhales and exhales provides the practitioner with a calming, mental focal point. Additionally, viṅyāsa and Ujjayi together create internal heat, which leads to purification of the body through increased circulation and sweating.

Another major principle of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is the bandha, or muscle locking/contraction, which focuses energy in the body and is closely tied to the breath. There are a variety of bandhas.

 Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is different from many yoga classes in the west in that the order of poses is completely predefined. A practice will comprise four main parts: an "opening sequence," one of the six main "series", a back-bending sequence, and a set of inverted postures, referred to as the "finishing sequence." Practice always ends with savasana, or resting pose. The opening sequence begins with 10 Sun Salutations and then several standing postures. Next, the practitioner will do one of the six main series, referred to as the Primary series (Yoga Chikitsa), Intermediate series (Nadi Shodhana) or Advanced A, B, C, or D (Sthira Bhaga) series level. Newcomers to Ashtanga Yoga practice the primary series, after learning the standing sequence. The Primary Series is the most important series as it forms the basis of the entire system. Practitioners may advance to more difficult series over a period of years or decades, but the goal of this style is not to learn the more difficult poses but rather to learn to maintain internal focus throughout the practice.

Daily or regular practice is highly emphasized in Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. Ashtanga Yoga is traditionally taught in Mysore style (supervised self practice, named after the city in India where Ashtanga originates), where each student moves through the practice at his or her own pace and level. An individual with an established Ashtanga practice might take between an hour and two hours, depending on his or her own personal speed, but a beginner will likely have a shorter practice. Yoga studios which teach Mysore practice are hard to find and these classes are often only taught by those authorized to teach by the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute. It is more common to find classes devoted to a specific series, often at a standardized pace, and guided by an instructor. However, even traditional Mysore-style teachers offer "led" classes either weekly or monthly.

Kundalini Yoga

What is Kundalini Yoga?

Kundalini Yoga is a physical and meditative discipline within the tradition of Yoga, associated with the subdivision of hatha yoga [1]. It describes a set of advanced yoga exercises. The exercises are also sometimes referred to as Kriya Yoga or simply Kriya.

Kriyas are the spontaneous movements resulting from the awakening of Kundalini energy.

What are the benefits of Kundalini Yoga?

The awakening of Kundalini means awakening of inner knowledge.
According to Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda awakening of kundalini shows itself as "awakening of inner knowledge". Like every form of energy one must also learn to understand spiritual energy. In order to be able to integrate this spiritual energy, careful purification and strengthening of the body and nervous system are required beforehand.

According to Hindu tradition Kundalini Yoga is a pure spiritual science that leads to enlightenment.

Kundalini , literally "coiled". In Indian Yoga, a "corporeal energy"- an unconscious, instinctive or libidinal force or Shakti, envisioned either as a goddess or else as a sleeping serpent coiled at the base of the spine, hence a number of English renderings of the term such as 'serpent power. Kundalini is considered a part of the subtle body along with chakras (energy centres) and nadis (channels). Each chakra is said to contain special characteristics. The overall concept has many points in common with Chinese acupuncture.

Yoga and Tantra propose that this energy may be "awakened" by such means as austerities, breath and other physical exercises, visualization and chanting. It may then rise up a subtle channel at the spine (called Sushumna) to the head, bringing psychological illumination.
When Kundalini Shakti is conceived as a goddess, then, when it rises to the head, it unites itself with the Supreme Being (Lord Shiva). The aspirant becomes engrossed in deep meditation and infinite bliss.