General Differences in Styles?

Hello - can anyone list yoga styles and give the general differences/similarities of each? It seems there are many out there…

Re: General Differences in Styles?

NOTE: basically any physical reference could be called Hatha (HATTA) yoga (sun and moon)   

HATHA YOGA
There are 8 limbs of Yoga: ethical principals (yama), rules of personal conduct, (niyama), postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama), control of the senses (pratyahara), concentration of the mind (dharana), meditation (dhyana) and absorption in the Infinite (samadhi). Hatha yoga refers to asana practice and is what the general public thinks of as “yoga” - physical postures.

Ananda or Kriya Yoga
Paramhansa Yogananda brought to America teachings and techniques specifically designed for spiritual awakening. He called his path Kriya Yoga, and it includes four major techniques: Energization Exercises, the Hong-Sau technique of concentration, AUM meditation, and the Kriya technique. For more information: http://www.expandinglight.org/

Anusara
Created by John Friend. Anusara yoga is an integrated approach with blends human spirit with the precise science of biomechanics. It differentiates itself from other hatha yoga systems by focusing on three areas: Attitude - the practitioner “opens to grace” and aspires to an awakening of her or his true nature. Alignment - Each pose is performed with an awareness of inner and outer body alignment. Action - Muscular stability is balanced with an expansive inner freedom.
For more information: http://www.anusara.com/

Ashtanga
Developed by yoga master K. Pattabhi Jois. Ashtanga is series of postures in a fast-paced continuous flow. An athletic style of yoga featuring six series of asanas, which increase in difficulty. For more information: http://www.ayri.org/

Bikram
Bikram Choudhury designed this sequence of 26 traditional hatha yoga postures. Each class consists of the same sequence. It is often referred to as “hot yoga”, because it is done in a 100-degree room to warm muscles and flush out toxins. Dress light, and bring water and a towel. For more information: http://www.bikramyoga.com/

Day Star Method
Day-Star is a gentler form of yoga, applying effort and rest equally. Emphasis is placed on experiencing the poses slowly, without pain, and with mindful breathing. A typical class incorporates a full menu of forward and backward bends, lateral and twisting postures, inversions and balancing poses, all done with attention to the breath. For more information, email daystaryoga@aol.com">daystaryoga@aol.com

Integral
Swami Satchidananda introduced this yoga. The philosophy is “an easeful body, a peaceful mind, and a useful life.” Integral is a gentler form of yoga balancing physical effort and relaxation. Classes include guided relaxation, breathing practices, sound vibration and silent meditation. For more information: http://www.yogaville.org/

Integrative Yoga Therapy
Founded by Joseph Le Page to adapt yoga postures for gentler applications such as treating heart disease, physical rehabilitation, and AIDS. Instructors also use guided imagery and breath work to help patients become more internally aware and heal. Visit http://www.iytyogatherapy.com/

Iyengar
B.K.S. Iyengar is one of the most influential yoga masters. Iyengar yoga is done at a slower pace with great attention to precise alignment. Asanas are held for a long time so students can fine-tune their muscular and skeletal alignment. If you cannot complete a pose, the instructor will accommodate your physical limitations with props - blocks, belts, blankets and chairs. For more information: http://www.bksiyengar.com/

Jivamukti
Jivamukti Yoga is a vigorous and challenging form of vinyasa asana practice (flowing postures), infused with an inspiring musical soundtrack, where original scriptures are cited, Sanskrit is chanted and meditation is part of every class. You can find out more about Jivamukti Yoga at http://www.jivamuktiyoga.com/.

Kripalu
A gentler form of yoga focusing on prana or life force. Started by Amrit Desai, Kripalu yoga trusts the body's wisdom and is sometimes called “meditation in motion.” For more information: http://www.kripalu.org/

Kriya Yoga see Ananda

Kundalini
Brought to the west by Yogi Bhajan. Kundalini yoga incorporates postures, dynamic breathing techniques, meditation and chanting. Practitioners concentrate on awakening the energy at the base of the spine and drawing it up through the seven chakras. For more information: http://www.3ho.org/

Power Yoga
A rigorous workout derived from Ashtanga yoga. Classes create heat and keep students moving. The term Power Yoga is used often in health clubs. To determine what the classes are like, consult with the individual instructor. See http://www.power-yoga.com/

Baron Baptiste is how I learned of power yoga
Sivananda
Based on philosophy of Swami Sivanada, which places asanas into a larger holistic emphasis. Sivananda yoga incorporates breath work (pranayama), meditation, vegetarianism, and relaxation, along with traditional asana practice. Classes consist of 12 basic hatha yoga postures, and include chanting, breath work and meditation. See http://www.sivananda.org/ for more info.

Viniyoga
Created by T.K.V. Desikachar. Viniyoga focuses on the individual's body by adjusting each pose to the student's needs, and synchronizing it with the breath. This gentler form of yoga is good for beginners or the infirm. For more information: http://www.viniyoga.com/

Vinyasa-Style/ Vinyasa Flow
This is a term for many yoga postures linked together in a continuous flow, with emphasis on the breath. These classes guide practitioners from one asana into another at slow or fast pace, and build strength and flexibility.

vinyasa is what I teach/practice the most - if you are just starting be very careful what type of class you start with…I don't recommend jumping into a public anusara class without some beginner instruction first, and with bikram just be aware of your true capabilities and be prepared when you go in…the hot room has people overstretching when they start and many newcomers aren't hydrated before they come to class and that is not pleasant! 

Re: General Differences in Styles?

Dear Yoga friends,
in my humble opinion– There are these basic forms of Yoga–which have been with Humankind since the very inception of Duality, Time-space continuum coming into manifestation:-
a) Raaja Yoga
b) Dharma Yoga
c) Karma Yoga
d)Kundalini and Hatha Yoga

Before these were even discussed or shared between peers, pioneers in the East, there was a rare form of Mystical Arts knowna s “Shree Vidya” (This encompasses both Raaja Yoga and Hatha Yoga and that evolved into what we know as Kundalini Yoga)

Honestly, I don't know how people made 101 types of Yoga afterwards. And it would be innacurate to say “Yogi Bhajan” brought Kundalini Yoga to the west. It was Carl jung that first wrote about Kundalini Yoga–in the understanding of Serpent Power” and that itself is a FLAWED form of Kundalini Yoga understanding.

However, I am not here to cast aspersions on anyone, I am just here to add my two cents to an already vibrant Pod about Yoga.
If anyone wants to discuss about this further or about SHree Vidya please feel free to talk with me, or message me.
Namaste, Lots of love n Light
Jagan Ramamoorthy
Los Angeles
CA

Re: General Differences in Styles?

I think they are just referring to who made it popular and who taught it… I agree that there are the basics of yoga - the general types…however for a yogi going out to find a school and to begin a practice more info is needed. If you tell someone there is Hatha and Karma yoga and they find a school practicing Anusara it won't help them.  I would categorize the “types” of yogas as you have…however all the styles that now exist need some explanation to the initiate…IMHO YOGA is a misused term anyway … YOGA can be practiced washing dishes…but the “physical” or asana practice is broken down this way and it very useful information!

in love and light

Re: General Differences in Styles?

ps..I believe the bahkti yoga would be a major category and is (I have heard this anyway) the most practiced form of yoga…I know in the Bhagavad Gita devotion is considered the highest form of yoga practice…any thoughts?

Re: General Differences in Styles?

Dear Aminda, very nicely said and I appreciate that you have furthered this discussion on the very need of why there are so many Branches of Yoga.
On an off shoot topic, at one time, REIKI used to be so RAMPANT that some of the practitioners started to introduce a new system of REiki every week. Soon we had a plethora of REIKI styles starting from USUI to Karuna to Kundlini to what not. I even knew a couple of “Reiki Grandmasters” (I had known of Grandmasters only in Chess and Freemasons/Knights Templars till then) who had deviced a “Marketting scheme” in which they Sold Undergarments which essentially had some “magnets” sewn into the garment and made people “Those who were Medically ill” to “Believe that these things are the REAL cures for their ailments”
It went to a height of ridiculousness when one getleman started to sell, “Plastic Pyramids” for every “Issue/problem” that one would seek a cure for. It ended for me, when I heard this ” We now have Reiki Dog biscuits, which would be so great for your pets that once they eat these Reiki-ed Biscuits, they will turn Saatwic animals full of compassion and kindness”

Then, I see people who are “Yoga practitioners” who combine some form of a narration–like a Bharat Natyam dancer would do– combined with the corresponding “Beeja Mantras” for each of the Seven major and Six minor chakras, without even understanding the science and art of “Intonation”
For instance, the Beejas:-
1)Lam, 2)Vam, 3)ram, 4)Ham(In this tradition that I am aware of, Heart Chakra is always associated with Sound syllables that have Ham–Soham, Hamsaha, Hreem” etc” and in many traditions taught, I have seen the YAM being taken by heart and HUMM pushed to Visshuddha or Throat chakra), 5)YAM, 6)AUM, 7)Soham
These Beejas have a specific Intonation, which was of course a Traditional way of doing –not as a Ritual, but purely as a form of “Sound syllable meditation” with an intention to send out energy from us–the practitioners, to any given Celestial being'/Object and once the contact is made, we draw the energy back from these objects to rejuvenate our Body, Mind, Soul, with not much consumed in the form of “Edibles”
When I am saying Intonation for these Beejas I mean like:-
LAM would sound as a WAVE that has three basic notes from “bB to C to #C and back to C” to complete one breath along with that Sound in Kumbhaka..
VAM woould be B to C to D, back to C” where in there is no Minor mode of any Sound syllable, in Kumbhaka as well.
RAM, would have only an Ascending format, C to D to E..it would simply stay and sustain on E.
Then, my explanation to why “Heart Chakra or Anaahata would have only HUMM as its Beeja and at the Note F”–Straight line, is because, whe we do the Shanmukhi we actually hear this Sound from Anaahata or as an Anaahata(Meaning Unagitated or unstruck Sound)
YAM is the perfect Fifth note, which corresponds to the Fifth Chakra–Vishuddha–here the term Vi-Shuddha was actually a way to express “Fifth note is Inversely harmonic to the First note”
(In sanskrit the prefix Vi, would generally mean “Opposite of” and if Shuddha was Pure/Tonic, Vishuddha would be Harmonically opposite to the Tonic or Perfect Fifth.
(Suppose I state here, that the first note is termed Shadja or SA and Fifth is panchama, or PA, then it would be easy to say that SA to PA is an ascent by Five equal places–similarly the descent from PA(treated as First degree now) to SA would also be by Five equal tones)

So, I feel people can explore much more within the already given/ established Yoga forms and can never complete anything in one life cycle, before they starting a Yoga for say “Computer mouse” or Keyboard Yoga” next thing… Or Broadband Yoga, DSL Yoga”

Yes, Bhakti Yoga is the essence of Bhagawad Gita, but that wasn't the easiest way for every being on the planet to understand. Some even asked me ” Is Bhakti Yoga not a Master-Slave relationship?”

After all, even Patanjali's one sentence about Yoga” Yogash-chitta Vritti Nirodhaha” got mistranslated for 1000's of years into “Yoga is 'possible' only when one can completely Obliterate the ripples/ thoughts of the Mind” where as what he really meant was “Yoga(Communion) between the Higher and Lower selves is accomplished by exhausting all Possibilities of the oceanic waves of the Chitta(Consciousness)” This is where the difference between Chit and Chitta was misconstrued.
Chit being an aspect of Chitta, chitta being Cosmic Mind or Supreme Consciousness, where as Chit being Individual or mundane Mind/ Consciousness.
Namaste,
PS: I musta dd, that I don't wish to demean any practitioner or teacher, just pointing out where an entire pantheon of humankind can be easily misled or deluded to believe what Yoga is.
Jagan Ramamoorthy

Re: General Differences in Styles?

you speak wisely.  citta vritti…I have been “taught” 5 different translations so far!!

I prefer to think of it like this “only when the mind fluctuations are still can we communicate in union” 

and the only thing I know for a fact about yoga is that I study something everyday and I plan to for the rest of my life and I'm just really glad I will have other lives to study with because there is NO way I can learn it all.  But my teacher said once to me… Yoga will find a way…so I figure as long as someone finds an access point that works for them I am happy…

will people exploit it? sadly yes do we cheapen it? we can't — no matter what the reality of yoga will always exist and some will choose to go down a longer path but that is their spiritual journey and I can't question it…


My studio was recently featured in our local paper and the interviewer asked me why someone should choose my studio over another…and I honestly said “they should choose mine if and only if it works for them”  I honestly believe that.  I am not out to compete or trademark or be considered a guru — simply put Yoga save my life when my husband died and I want to make sure that others who need that healing have access to it… every style has validity and fault — and something ancient isn't necessarily better than something new (and vice versa) 

the truth will out no matter what…my ONLY concern is people getting duped BUT even that is part of someone's journy so who am I to question it?  I love to give info and help people find their path based on what I know…but in the end I think the only true teacher in our lives is ourselves — so if someone chooses a path without researching it then they are discovering their lessons in the way they need to.

whew…I can get all soapboxy sorry :)

I only use the beejas in my private practice…with singing bowls…I don't really want to mess too much with peoples kundilini energy …a bit beyond my comfort zone. I do discuss the chakras in class and utilize mudras but on a very simplistic level.  I have been chanting

hamsaha for 6 months now…anahata is my entry level…and I figure if my alignment is still in flux I am not messing with someone elses. 

finally you bring up a point that keeps me from taking anything at face value “in some traditions”  I figure it isn't science and it's not religion - it is a living breathing growing practice so there can not be a black and white right/wrong scenario.

Re: General Differences in Styles?

Dearest Aminda, My heart goes out to you, on hearing that your beloved Husband chose to leave for his higher realms of consciousness much earlier than you are gonna do in this Life cycle.
However, quoting the Bhagawad Gita ” Grieve not for those who are anyway Eternal”.
I have a few examples of “Yoga” here..
a) I can commune with the Master of our Solar system through either the Gaayatri Mantra or this Soorya mantra:-
Aum, Aasatyena Rajasaa Varrtamaano Nivesha-yannn, NAmmruttam, marrtyam cha,
Hiranyayena Savitaa Rathenaa Aadevo Yaa-Aati Bhuvanaani-Vipashyann”
b) With Moon vide:-
Aum, Apyaayaswa Sametute Vishwattass-soma Vrishniyam, Bhavaa Vaajasya Sangathe”
c) Mars…
Agnir-moordhaa Divah kakuta patih, Prithi VYaa–aa-yam, Apaagum-retaamgumsi Jinvati
d) Mercury…
Aum, Udbusya Swaagne Prati Jaagruhyena Mishthaa Poortey Sagum Srujeyadhaa mayam cha,
Punnaha Krinnvagg Stwaapi Taram Yuwaana Manwaataa-gumsi Twayi Tantume tama”
e) Jupiter with…
AUM, Brihaspatey Ati yadarryo Arhad-dyumav-vibhaati, Kratu majjanneshu yad-deedaya-chhvasarrta Prajaata tadasmaasu Dravinam Dhehi Chitram”
f) Venus with…
Shukrantey Anyad Yajatante Anyad Vishuroope Ahanee Dyourivaasi Avasi swadhaawo Bhadraate pooshann, Niharaati rastu.
g) Saturn with…
Shamagni Ragni Bhiskarash-chhanna stapatu sooryaha
Shamvaato vaatwar-apaa Apashridhaha
e) Northern Node of Moon (RAahu)
KAyaa-nashchitra Aabhuvadooti Sadaa vridhaa Sakhaa Aa Kayaa Shachishtayaa vritaah
f) Southern Node of Moon or Ketu…
Ketumm Krinn-vanna ketave pesho marryaa apashesay Samushid-Bhirajaayathaa”

maybe this is helpful in what I am trying to delineate here.
Namaste, much love n light
Jagan Ramamoorthy

Aum,

Re: General Differences in Styles?

-Swami Jnaneshvara Bharati

“Not only has there been a reversal of Hatha Yoga and Yoga, whereby Hatha Yoga (the “part”) has been labeled as “Yoga” (the “whole”), but the whole process and scope of Yoga has been effected in our collective perceptions of Yoga.” - -Swami Jnaneshvara Bharati

• Yoga is the whole, of which Kundalini is a part.
• Yoga is the whole, of which Laya is a part.
• Yoga is the whole, of which Mantra is a part.
• Yoga is the whole, of which Nada is a part.
• Yoga is the whole, of which Raja is a part.
• Yoga is the whole, of which Tantra is a part.
• Yoga is the whole, of which Bhakti is a part.
• Yoga is the whole, of which Hatha is a part.
• Yoga is the whole, of which Jnana is a part.
• Yoga is the whole, of which Karma is a part.

Re: General Differences in Styles?

Thank you very much Swamiji.
That was very informative as well.
“Sangeeta-Gnyaanamu Bhakti Vinaa”
Namaste,
Jagan Ramamoorthy