Many Yoga Practices

Students today have many opportunities to learn a wide variety of yoga practices. Generally speaking, the term yoga refers to the practice of certain physical postures, called asanas. Most yoga classes include a variety of yoga techniques such as postures, relaxation, meditation, breathing, chanting, study, and the use of fragrance and sound.
 

Teachers draw on a long tradition of practices and modify them to their own experiences and to the benefits of their students. Yoga practices may include:

Hatha Yoga: The traditional name for the practice of yoga postures that help the body stay flexible, strong, balanced and healthy.

Vinyasa: An approach to yoga where the postures are blended to move smoothly from one to another. Postures are designed to build one on the other for a subtle flow of energy as well as to increase stamina.

Kundalini Yoga: Yoga practice to ‘awaken’ or nurture the kundalini, the powerful spiritual energy of the subtle body.

Meditation: The practice of being connected to the deepest part within. It helps you develop the ability to work with the world of thoughts and feelings and go beyond to an experience of deep peace and contentment.

Mantra Yoga: Repeating certain powerful words or texts to steady the mind and build subtle energy.

Chanting: Chanting mantras, texts and bhajans (songs) soothes the nervous system, helps the body relax, increases concentration and complements spiritual practices.

Jnana Yoga: The wisdom path of yoga includes studying scriptures and philosophies, meditation, contemplation and self-inquiry.

Kriya Yoga (also Karma Yoga): The yoga of action includes service to others as well as focusing on right action in your life.

Laya Yoga: The yogic practice of dissolving into Consciousness through meditation and related practices.

Raja Yoga: Known as the royal path, the yoga system of Patanjali. Also the yoga of meditation based on the balance of thought and emotion.

Tantra Yoga: A wide range of practices to enhance spiritual energy, including philosophical discussion, meditation and self-inquiry, ritual and service.

Bhakti Yoga: The yoga of devotion. Activities include chanting, ritual, pilgrimage, ceremony and discipleship to a guru.

Yoga Philosophies: The study of the origins, theories and practices of different branches, lineages and teachings of yoga. These may include a broad range from the formal spiritual traditions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikkhism to any number of specific yoga philosophies such as Vedanta, Samkhya and Kashmir Shaivism, as well as guru-disciple lineages such as Sri Ramakrishna.

Yoga for Special Groups or Individuals

If you have a special group or interest, contact yoga teachers in your area. Teachers hold yoga classes for many special-interest groups throughout Australia. A few of these include the following.

Children’s Yoga: Especially designed for kids, classes often include yoga games and fun, interactive approaches to the postures.

Teens Yoga: Yoga classes tailored for teenagers help ease the everyday stresses and pressures of their lives. They build strength, stamina, flexibility and an ability to focus inwards.

Corporate Yoga: Classes specifically for the workplace are tailored to reduce stress and improve memory, focus and concentration.

Seniors Yoga: Yoga designed for mature bodies focuses on stretching, deep breathing and relaxation techniques to help participants remain healthy, flexible and active.

Pregnancy Yoga: Highly recommended by women who have taken pregnancy yoga and given birth, this is a safe, simple and natural method of preparing for childbirth, combining breathing and relaxation techniques with stretching, strengthening and balancing exercises.

Therapeutic Yoga: Therapeutic yoga is focused on addressing particular ailments or conditions. These may include arthritis, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis or recovering from surgery or illness. Since these programs are tailored to the individual, they involve one-on-one consultation with a practitioner or classes in a small group.

Private Classes: Most yoga teachers offer one-on-one yoga sessions that address specific needs, such as time, location, physical issues or privacy.

Many Styles of Yoga

Styles of yoga and the various names for yoga organizations or enterprises can be confusing because some are both a type of practice and a brand name.

As yoga has become more popular and commercialized, individuals have created their own styles, which they teach to others who carry on a tradition. Larger organizations often arise from a lineage of a Guru or teacher and usually observe certain practices and philosophies.

When you are looking for a yoga teacher, it is important to try different locations and different teachers to find the right style and environment for you.

The following is a representative list of major yoga styles. Please keep in mind that the YTAA is an association of yoga teachers that does not endorse any particular style or teacher.

Ashtanga Yoga: Ashtanga Yoga is a system of yoga taught by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. It involves synchronizing the breath with progressive series of postures, a process producing intense internal heat and a profuse, purifying sweat that detoxifies muscles and organs.

Ayur Yoga: Ayur Yoga combines the ancient Indian healing practice of ayurveda with yoga. It focuses on rejuvenating the body, relaxing the nerves and calming the mind for overall balance.

Bikram Yoga: Bikram Yoga is a series of 26 postures and two breathing exercises created by Bikram Choudhury. The series, performed in a hot room for 90 minutes, systematically stretches and strengthens every muscle, ligament, tendon and joint in the body.

Classical Yoga: Classical Yoga draws on the teachings of Patanjali and his famous work, the Yoga Sutras, which define the eight limbs of yoga and yoga as a complete life work.


Dru Yoga: Drawing on a wide range of yogic practices, Dru yoga is tailored for modern living to enhance body, mind and emotions. Its graceful flowing style suits all fitness levels. Dru Yoga emphasises spinal alignment, core stability, the power of the heart and inner stillness in a friendly class atmosphere.

Gita Yoga: Gita Yoga is based on 10 foundational hatha yoga postures, which work all the body systems, major organs and the endocrine glands.

Gitananda Yoga: Gitananda Yoga is Ashtanga Yoga, with an emphasis on yoga as a way of life.

Integral Yoga: Developed by Swami Satchidananda, Integral classes emphasise breathing and meditation as much as yoga postures.

Iyengar Yoga: B.K.S. Iyengar’s style of yoga is noted for its attention to detail and the precise alignment of postures, as well as the use of props such as blocks and belts. Postures are generally held longer.

Kriya Yoga: Several branches of the Kriya Yoga lineage of Babaji Maharaj offer initiation and instruction into the spiritual tradition of meditation and divine energy. These include the Self Realization Fellowship, founded by Paramahamsa Yogananda (author of Autobiography of a Yogi), and the Kriya Yoga Institute of Paramahamsa Hariharananda.

Kundalini Yoga: Kundalini Yoga as a brand name of yoga, was created by Yogi Bhajan. The practice involves classic poses and meditation, with an emphasis on chanting and breathing.

Okido Yoga: Okido Yoga, developed by Dr Masahiro Oki, draws from the philosophy of Zen Buddhism. It is based on enlivening the energy channels and incorporates postures and meditation.

Power Yoga: As the name suggests, power yoga is a vigorous yoga workout to build strength, flexibility and stamina. It is generally a modified version of the primary series of Ashtanga Yoga, conducted in a heated room.

Satyananda Yoga: Satyananda draws on ancient yogic practices and incorporates hatha, raja, karma, jnana, mantra and bhakti yogas in a systematic, step-by-step approach to integrated living.

Shiva Yoga: Swami Shankarananda Saraswati (Swamiji) founded Shiva Yoga in the tradition of the lineage of Swami Muktananda and Bhagawan Nityananda. An integrated, lifestyle, the Shiva School of Meditation and Yoga offers yoga philosophy, meditation, chanting, self-inquiry, hatha yoga and karma yoga.

Siddha Yoga: Founded by Swami Muktananda, Siddha Yoga has sessions in hatha yoga, meditation, chanting and yoga philosophy, drawing from the ancient philosophies and practices of kundalini yoga, advaita vedanta and Kashmir Shaivism.

Sivananda Yoga: One of the largest yoga schools in the world, Sivananda Yoga was developed by Vishnudevananda and named after his teacher, Swami Sivananda. It follows a set structure of 12 basic yoga poses and includes pranayama, relaxation and meditation.

Viniyoga: T.K.V. Desikachar developed the practice of Viniyoga after the teachings of his father, T. Krishnamacharya, who was the teacher of yoga masters B.K.S. Iyengar, (Iyengar Yoga) K. Pattabhi Jois (Ashtanga Yoga) and Indra Devi. The practice emphasises the coordination of breath and movement.

Yoga Chi Gung: Yoga Chi Gung is a blend of teachings that deal with body work, breath and healing.

Yoga Dance: Yoga dance incorporates the flowing movements of dance for a full body workout and to increase energy levels, tone and flexibility.

Yoga Pilates: Yoga Pilates adds the dynamic of deep strengthening of core muscle groups, as developed by Joseph Pilates.

Other Styles: For other styles of yoga classes, please contact the teachers directly.