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" Be the change you wish to see in the world."
- Gandhi
Hatha Yoga (excerpt from www.eomega.org)
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 the 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 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 (Krisnamacharya'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.
Anusara Yoga
Anusara (a-nu-SAR-a) means "following your heart,"or "to move 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 are deeply respected and honored.
Iyengar Yoga
Iyengar Yoga emphasizes posture and the development of balance and 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 indiviuals with varying limitations and capacities for accomplishing postures. Iyengar Yoga is noted for great attention to detail and precise alignment of postures.
Kripalu Yoga
Kripalu Yoga puts great emphasis on the mechanics of 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 another 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.
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