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Types of Yoga in India

September 6, 2011 By 1 Comment

Yoga originated thousands of years ago in India. A common way of life at that time, the ancient Rishis abided by the principles of yoga to live their lives. Yoga, as we know it today, began later at around 500 B.C. This miraculous approach to well being, was discovered by those in other parts of the world and soon, yoga found its way into the lives of people miles away from the country of its origin. Today, yoga is a popular form of exercise that has flourished throughout the world, especially in the west. It’s rare to find anyone who has not heard of yoga. But how is the situation for yoga in India? Do people still practice yoga there? The answer is yes. In fact, it is thriving in the country of its origin, especially when Yoga Gurus like Baba Ramdev and Bikram Choudhury have been acting as catalysts in spreading awareness about yoga and its benefits. Yoga classes and yoga schools are popping up everywhere; TV channels are dedicating significant time slots to yoga shows. Yoga camps are organized all over India, and are broadcasted live on TV channels; we might as well say that yoga has never been so much in the buzz before. Here are a few yoga types popular in India today.

Ashtanga yoga: This is a vigorous form of Hatha yoga which is based on eight-fold path of yoga termed by Patanjali as abstinences (Yama), observances (Niyama), postures (Asana), breath control (Pranayama), sense withdrawal (Pratyahara), concentration (Dharana), meditation (Dhyana) and contemplation (Samadhi). In fact, the term “Ashtanga” itself means eight limbs in Sanskrit. Ashtanga yoga includes everything we’ve known yoga to be; from postures to breathing exercises to meditation; it’s a complete package for physical, emotional and mental well-being.

Kundalini yoga: Kundalini yoga is one of the most spiritual forms of yoga, challenging the practitioner both physically and mentally. This yoga type is based on the philosophy that a spiritual energy or life force is situated at the base of the spine, which is usually conceptualized as a coiled serpent. In fact, Kundalini or kundala literally means coiled in Sanskrit. So, Kundalini yoga aims at attaining enlightenment which is believed to be achieved only when the Kundalini energy situated at the base of the spine reaches the crown. Kundalini yoga is also believed to cure a number of ailments like asthma, diabetes, stress related diseases and even mental disorders. No wonder people are flocking to Kundalini yoga classes.

Sivananda yoga: A yoga type that emphasizes on frequent relaxation and full yogic breathing, Sivananda yoga aims at spreading peace, health and joy. This yoga style focuses on asana, pranayama, relaxation, proper diet, positive attitude and meditation with twelve basic asanas setting the foundation of each asana practice. Since this yoga type is gentle, it can be practiced by people of all ages.

Hatha yoga: This yoga type is not just popular in the United States; it is widely practiced in India. Usually practiced for emotional, psychological and physical health, this yoga type has been widely embraced for its stress reducing qualities. Like most yoga types, Hatha yoga also involves asanas (poses), breathing exercise (pranayama) and meditation.

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Kundalini Yoga and Meditation

May 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Kundalini yoga would be incomplete without meditation.  Meditation is neither magic nor a religious practice. It is not a belief either.  Meditation, in fact, is an art that lets you get in touch with your inner self, the real “you”.  During meditation, your mind and your body communicate with each other in a harmonious way to give you a healthy body, mind and spirit.  With regular meditation, you will find yourself happier and your life balanced.  What is so special about meditation?  Why is it a vital part of Kundalini yoga?  Read on
to find out.

The prime objective of Kundalini yoga is enlightenment. Attaining enlightenment without meditation would be impossible.  Mediation is more than sitting in a certain position and closing your eyes.  It takes a lot of effort to succeed in meditation and even years of practice cannot make one perfect.  The reason behind this is that our mind is always occupied with thoughts, thoughts about oneself or anything under the sun or something that does not even exist. Have you ever found yourself not thinking about anything?  That is difficult, but you should make it a goal while meditating.

It may be difficult, but it is not impossible. Meditation in Kundalini yoga is mainly initiated by focus on breathing.  Special attention is paid to inhalation and exhalation, and the right posture is essential.  Your back must be straight to let the energy flow smoothly through your body.  Tension in the muscles of the neck area, jaws and the face are things you should focus on.  Meditation is all about relaxation.  If one cannot relax, then one cannot meditate well.  Sitting cross-legged is not the only position available.  If you have a problem sitting cross-legged, sit on a chair with both feet on the ground.  Whatever you do, settle down in a comfortable position.  After you are done settling down, focus on getting rid
of thoughts that constantly pop up in your mind.  Make it a point to acknowledge the thought, and then release it.  Meditation is of great value as it clears your mind of negative thoughts and helps increase your concentration. It is a great way to sharpen your mind and intuitions. Keep in mind that mastering meditation is not as easy as getting the poses and the pranayama right. But achieving a meditative state in Kundalini yoga is possible. The more you practice, the better you get at it.

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Kundalini Yoga

March 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment

If you are up for both mental and physical challenges, Kundalini yoga is definitely the one for you. Believed to be one of the most spiritual forms of yoga, Kundalini yoga emphasizes on spiritual awakening by focusing on breath and movement. This yoga type is fundamentally based on the philosophy that a spiritual energy or life force is situated at the base of the spine, which is usually conceptualized as a coiled serpent. In fact, Kundalini or kundala literally means coiled in Sanskrit. Kundalini yoga aims at arousing this sleeping spiritual energy through the 6th Chakra and to penetrate the 7th. Kundalini yoga has been rightfully called “the yoga of awareness” because its prime objective is to help an individual connect to his consciousness by increasing self knowledge, developing intuition and releasing the unlimited creative potential that lies hidden in every human being. This yoga type is believed to have been in existence for hundreds of years and it was introduced to the west only recently. While this yoga type was deemed to be secretive and misunderstood, a man named Yogi Bhajan brought this practice to the west in the 1960s with the aim to tackle drug abuse. Since then, Kundalini yoga has flourished and has become a popular choice for reinforcing a person’s spiritual growth and bodily maturation.
Who has time to think about enlightenment at a time when people are busy living their lives? Yoga is only for making a person enhance his well-being. If this is what you think, Kundalini yoga is going to change your opinion. Attaining enlightenment is the primary objective of Kundalini yoga and it is believed that full enlightenment occurs when the Kundalini energy situated at the base of the spine reaches the crown. This is possible only when all seven chakras have been awakened. Every movement and pose in Kundalini yoga is executed with a keen focus on breath. It is understood that this focus is what intensifies the effects of the poses thus releasing the energy in the lower body and helping it move upwards. One can expect a Kundalini class to begin with chants. This is followed by exercises to stretch the spine and improve flexibility. The main activity of the Kundalini class which is called kriya is composed of a series of poses and pranayama in which special attention is paid to different parts of the body. Students are also made to meditate towards the end of the class. Kundalini yoga has been observed to cure a large number of ailments such as asthma, diabetes, stress related diseases and even mental disorders. But this doesn’t mean you have to be ill to practice Kundalini yoga for it is said to improve memory as well. Kundalini yoga is so much more than just stretching and breathing. It goes beyond making you physically and mentally healthy and helps you become a complete human being by tapping into your inner consciousness.

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