Yoga is a Sanskrit word of many meanings. It may refer to the "union of the self with the divine." It may be used to cite the methods or disciplines used to achieve such union. It may encompass certain meditative practices. It may refer to a Hindu theistic philosophy with many schools of thought about spiritual life and liberation.

Generally, the word yoga refers to an integration of physical and mental exercises designed to balance and unite the mind, body, and spirit. Various branches of yoga emphasize a particular approach to this integration. Jnana Yoga takes the path of knowledge or wisdom; Bhakti Yoga is the path of devotion; Karma Yoga is the path of action or service; Tantra Yoga is the path of ritual; Raja Yoga is the path of meditation; Hatha Yoga is the path of physical postures (called asanas) and breathing (pranayama).

In the West, when we use the word yoga, we most often are referring to Hatha Yoga.
Benefits of Hatha Yoga
The postures and breathing techniques of Hatha Yoga yield many benefits to the practitioner's health and well-being. Hatha Yoga promotes flexibility, tones the body, enhances vitality, cultivates balance, and calms the mind. It improves strength and endurance and increases awareness and concentration. It alleviates stress and creates a welcome feeling of wholeness and deeprelaxation.

There are many schools of Hatha Yoga, and many approaches to teaching. It is not unusual for teachers themselves to study in various schools and to blend techniques to create their own approaches. Differences among the schools are usually about emphasis: One may focus on strict alignment of the body, another on coordination of breath and movement; one may focus on holding each posture for a period of time, another on the flow (vinyasa) from one posture to another. A new yoga student may want to try classes in different styles and with different teachers to find those that best match his or her needs.

Many of the schools of Hatha Yoga popular today in the West can trace their roots to the Indian Sanskrit scholar and teacher Krishnamacharya (1888-1989), several of whose pupils have themselves become prominent teachers. Among the most popular and influential in the West are: B.K.S. Iyengar, who founded Iyengar yoga; T.K.V. Desikachar (Krishnamacharya's son), who carries on the tradition, known as Viniyoga, that he learned from his father; and Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, who developed Ashtanga Yoga. There are, however, many popular schools of yoga that may be most suitable for the beginner student. We have provided a comprehensive list of yoga styles and approaches to help you find what you are looking for.

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Ananda Yoga is a classical style of gentle Hatha Yoga that uses breathing and postures accompanied by silent, positive affirmationsto awaken, experience, and begin to control the subtle energies within us.Its object is to use those energies to harmonize body, mind, and emotions,and to expand self-awareness. Ananda yoga is a relatively gentle, inward experience, not an athletic or aerobic practice. It was developed by Swami Kriyananda, a direct disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda, author of the spiritual classic, Autobiography of a Yogi.


anandayoga.org/

nancyrakela.com/

wailana.com/

anandaspa.com/

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Anusara (a-nu-SAR-a) means "following your heart," or "tomove with the current of divine will." It is a style of yoga developed by John Friend, whose main Hatha influence was B.K.S. Iyengar. Anusara Yoga is described as heart-oriented, spiritually inspiring, yet grounded in a deep knowledge of outer- and inner-body alignment. Each student's various abilities and limitations are deeply respected and honored.

anusara.com/

yogamovement.com

wildspirityoga.com

deeppeaceyoga.com

doyoga.com

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Ashtanga Yoga  was first developed by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois and is an aerobic, muscle-shaping, mind-sculpting, physically demanding workout. Students move through a series of flows, moving from one posture to another to build strength, flexibility, and stamina. Room temperatures are often set high to promote detoxification through increased perspiration. Ashtanga often appeals to athletes and those who enjoy high-energy exercise.

www.ayri.org/

.ashtangayogashala.net/

natural-connection.com

ashtangacenter.com

yogachola.de

Bikram Choudhury's yoga is hot, hot, hot, so be preparedto sweat, sweat, sweat. In class, they crank the thermostat up high, and then perform a series of 26 asanas (each held for at least 10 seconds) and two pranayamas,sometimes twice. The series is designed to warm and stretch muscles,ligaments, and tendons in a naturally progressive order. Founder Bikram Choudhury studied yoga with Bishnu Ghosh, brother of Paramahansa Yogananda,author of the spiritual classic, Autobiography of a Yogi.
bikramyoga.com

bikramyogamadison.com

bikram-yoga-noosa-australia.com

Body-Mind Centering® Yoga combines the activities of Body-Mind Centering and yoga poses through the conscious embodiment of the student's cells, tissues, body systems, and developmental patterns. Proponents of Body-Mind Centering believe that when students initiate poses in this embodied way, they execute each pose as an expression of his or her presentstate of being. Astudent's yoga experience is then shaped by the fullness of his orher cellular involvement rather than dictated by the ability to complete an external form.Static positions transform into dynamic patterns of movementas students, aswell as their practice, become enlivened.

Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen

yoga journal

Integral classes put almost as much emphasis on breathing and meditation as they do on postures. Classes begin with 45 minutes of postures,followed by deep relaxation, a breathing sequence, anda meditation. Swami Satchidananda, who led the crowds at the original Woodstock festival in an opening chant of "Om," developed Integral Yoga. It is the style used by Dr.DeanOrnish in his ground breaking work on reversing heart disease.

integralyogany.org

Sri Aurobindo's Teaching and Method of Sadhana

ISHTA—Integrated Science of Hatha, Tantra, and Ayurveda— is a joyful, beginner-friendly mix of 15 kinds of yoga, including athletic Ashtanga, flowing Viniyoga, and precise Iyengar, combined with Tantric meditation techniques and ayurvedic practices to rebalance one's life. Developed by Alan Finger and his father Kavi Yogiraj Mani Finger, it is a tradition with roots in teachings by Paramahansa Yogananda, author of the spiritual classic,Autobiography of a Yogi.

Ishta Yoga

Iyengar yoga emphasizes posture and the development of balanceand alignment. To support students' explorations of postures, Iyengar yoga makes use of a wide variety of props: belts, blocks, pillows, and balls.Iyengar is one of the most widely practiced yoga techniques in the West.It was developed in India by B.K.S. Iyengar and responds to individuals with varying limitations and capacities for accomplishing postures. Iyengar Yogais noted for great attention to detail and the precise alignment of postures.

Iyengar Yoga Org UK

BKS Iyengar Official Website

Jivamukti, a Sanskrit word that means "liberation while living," was developed by Sharon Gannon and David Life and combine savigorous physical practice with an equally strong foundation in an cient spiritual tradition sof yoga. Each class focuses on a theme, which is supported by Sanskrit chanting,readings,references to scriptural texts, music (from the Beatlesto Moby),spoken word,asana sequencing, and yogic breathing practices.

Jivamukti Yoga

Kali Ray TriYoga, founded by Kali Ray, brings posture,breath,and focus together to create dynamic and intuitive flows.These flows combine active and sustained postures that emphasize wave like movements of the spine,economy of motion, and synchronization with breath and gestures.The flows are systematized by level and can be as gentle or as challenging asdesired.Students may progress from basics to advanced as they increase their flexibility,strength, endurance, and knowledge of the flows.

Kali Ray

Kripalu Yoga puts great emphasis on the mechanics of yoga—proper breath and alignment—as well as on the inner, spiritual dimensions of yoga practice. Students are encouraged to honor "the wisdom of the body"and to work according to the limits of their individual flexibility and strength.There are three stages in Kripalu yoga. Stage one focuses on learning the postures and exploring your body's abilities. Stage two involves holding the postures for an extended time, developing concentration and inner awareness.Stage three is called "Meditation in Motion," in which movement from one posture to an other arises unconsciously and spontaneously. Kripalu yoga was developed by Yogi Amrit Desai, who was inspired by his guru, Swami Kripalvanandaji,a Kundalini Yoga master from India.

discoveryyoga.com

Kripalu yoga