Did you Know...
The word Yoga translates to mean “union”. The belief is that for a person to live in peace with themselves and their environment – the Body, Mind and Spirit need be integrated.
Yogic Philosophy
The essence of a yoga practice is how yoga cultivates the connection of the Body, Mind and Spirit. Common yogic teachings:
- Letting go of competition with oneself as well as with others.
- Letting go of judgement of oneself as well as with others.
- Letting go of expectations of oneself as well as with others.
- Listening to ones’ own body and honoring what it tells you.
- Bringing awareness to the breath.
- Being present.
Fitness Industry + Yoga = ah Ha moments!
The merging of the fitness industry with the yoga community has helped to demystify yoga, and encourage many people to include yoga as part of a healthy lifestyle. Often participants attend yoga in a yoga fitness class, purely for the physical benefits, and then go on to explore other aspects of traditional yoga.
Yoga is for every shape, demographic, lifestyle, little to no flexibility to bending like a pretzel – with new age western popularity, many new and creative styles and variations of yoga are being offered. Today, there really is a yoga class for everyone!
- Yoga for special populations (kids, seniors, prenatal and the like)
- Yoga for sport (runners, athletes)
- Mixed classes (yoga + spin, yoga + Pilates)
- Power Yoga/Flow Yoga
Benefits of Hatha Yoga
- Cultivates awareness (physical & mental)
- Improved balance
- Improved concentration & focus (for meditation)
- Stress management
- Post rehabilitation of injuries
- Increased level of muscular strength and endurance
- Improved R.O.M, flexibility
- Improved sport performance
- Improved circulation
- Energy enhancement
- Happiness, joy & serenity
Some Styles of Traditional Hatha Yoga
Ashtanga: Pattanbhi Jois wrote Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga in 1915. Vinyasa is a Sanskrit work meaning “to place in a special way” in this case, to link or flow the asanas together, coordinated by breath. Ashtanga is a series of postures, which focuses on improving strength and flexibility (both physically and mentally).
“Vinyasa requires that we cultivate an awareness that links each action to the next – one breath at a time.” Krisnamacharya
Iyengar: uses props to ensure the correct posture and alignment in all asanas. It is a precise approach to explaining the technology of the body.
“The goal is to bring the mind into every cell, refining the connection of inner intelligence through physical and mental training.” Iyengar
Kundalini: uses asanas, breathing, chanting and meditation to move energy through your spine and the rest of your body.
Disciplines of Yoga
Hatha: focus is on physical discipline
Bhakti: focus on devotion and selfless love
Karma: focus on selfless service
Jnana: focus on wisdom
Mantra: focus on sound
Tantra: focus on breath and movement
Raja: classical style of yoga based on the eight limbs
The 8 Limbs of Yoga as per Patanjali
Yama: the laws of life (the moral and ethical guidelines)
Niyama: the rules of living (self observation and discipline)
Asana: the physical postures Pranayama: the breathing exercises
Pratyahara: sense of withdrawal
Dharana: steadiness of mind (concentration)
Dhyana: meditation
Samadhi: the settled mind (enlightenment)
Testimonials
I am encouraged and motivated by members who act like family and who have progressed to a fitness level which I hope to achieve - great health club, great atmosphere and great motivator.
Nelly and Dustin delivered a great session. They provided practical health tips – both for on the job and off – while reinforcing a theme of self-care. The highlights included Dustin’s physical demonstrations of stretching and Nelly’s humorous explanations that filled the room with both good information and laughter.
