Apiyoga, Styles de yoga

Yoga Styles

hatha-yoga

Hatha Yoga is the origin of all other styles of Yoga.

It comes to us from India where its traces date back to the dawn of time.

Technique revealed to man, it was taught for millennia only in a relationship of masters to disciples.

The word HATHA YOGA = solar energy (HA) and lunar energy (THA).

The word Yoga comes from the Sanskrit root YUG which means to bind and unite.

Hatha Yoga aims at the union of body, mind and spirit.

But Hatha is also translated as " effort ". Hatha-yoga also means " yoga of effort ", because it is a postural practice.

The techniques employed use physical postures (called asanas), breathing practices (pranayama) and meditation, as well as deep relaxation (yoga nidra).

It mainly concerns spiritual awakening through correct postures (Asanas), breath discipline (prāṇāyāma) and meditation.

India, in its great tradition, knows 4 great spiritual disciplines in which we find the word Yoga: Karma Yoga (Yoga of action), Jnâna Yoga (Yoga of knowledge), Bhakti Yoga (Yoga of devotion) and Râja Yoga (Royal or classical Yoga).

Coming from Râja Yoga, according to tradition, Hatha Yoga seeks bodily perfection as a means of access to the spiritual liberation of the being. From this crucible, were born and developed other styles of Yoga which are also practiced today such as Ashtanga Yoga, Vinyasa, Yoga Iyengar, Kundalini Yoga, Yoga flow, Power Yoga... and closer to home, Hot Yoga and AcroYoga.

Hatha Yoga cultivates, in the regular practitioner, qualities of patience , temperance and humility. It also develops the sense of grace and freedom. Although it is a practice, Hatha Yoga is above all a state of mind , the search for a state of well-being and peace. We don't ʺdo yogaʺ, we try to be in a state of Yoga (in a state of Unity).

yin-yoga

Meditative approach and postures held longer

Yin yoga, derived from the principles of Taoist yoga, relies on long-lasting stretching , combining slow and deep breathing . Characterized by postures held for several minutes, Yin yoga allows you to work the whole body and mind.

Since it targets the connective tissues rather than focusing on the muscles, Yin yoga can significantly improve the overall flexibility of the body as well as the health of the joints, organs and even bones. The long duration of each Yin yoga pose promotes relaxation. By holding the poses longer, you will be able to access a calm and an unequaled level of concentration which will allow you, over the sessions, to learn to clear your mind.

The 3 fundamental principles of Yin yoga are: :

Respect your limits and find your happy medium.
Stay calm and move as little as possible.
Hold the postures as long as possible, always respecting your limits.

Savor the sensations, but never let the sensations become overwhelming. Come out of the pose if you feel any pain.

Yin yoga works the body, the heart and the mind in depth . Through the hold time of the poses and the use of simple gravity as a lever of resistance, you will have a complete meditative experience, learn to let go and become truly aware of the present moment.

The benefits of Yin yoga:

– Improves flexibility and suppleness
– Promotes healthy internal organs
– Strengthens connective tissues
– Stimulates the production of collagen allowing the reconstruction of joints and ligaments
– Amplifies range of motion of joints
– Stimulates the circulation of energy
– Provides a feeling of calm by eliminating the stress of everyday life
– Promotes concentration and introspection
– Allows you to reach a state of deep meditation
– Ensures maximum stretch of the hips and lower back
– Improves the overall performance of the practice of active yoga and all other sports activities

Note: connective tissues serve as support for other body tissues and are made up of fibers and cells of various appearances.

Good to know : the butterfly, the dragonfly, the pose of the child, the half-lace, the lace, the plow, the bell, the sphinx, the seal, the dragon or the camel are names of poses practiced in Yin yoga .

Sivananda

Sivananda yoga , with its exercises and postures performed in sequence, emphasizes above all:

breathing and relaxation.
positive thinking and meditation .

This yoga was founded in the 1960s by Swami Vishnudevahanda (1927-1993).

He was a pupil of Swami Sivananda, hence the name he gave to his technique. He set up a training school for teachers of Sivananda yoga.

Sivananda yoga is based on 5 principles:

the right exercise: a regular practice of the postures (asanas) , but without prejudice to the body, the exercise must be practiced gently,
the right breath : you have to learn to breathe correctly throughout the practice (pranayama),
relaxation : it is important to be able to relax well, not only to relax the body but also the mind,
a right way to eat: this type of yoga encourages vegetarianism,
a positive way of thinking and the practice of meditation.

A session often begins with a moment of calm : we often introduce a relaxation session at the beginning of the session, followed by breathing exercises (Pranayamas) then, we begin slowly with a series of exercises: in general, we continue with a series of 12 classic postures which work in depth the 7 energy centers (Chakras) of the body.

Yoga Nidra

Yoga Nidra is a sublime science of complete relaxation.

It was developed by Swami Satyananda in the 1950s but its origins date back to the dawn of time.

At a very basic level, yoga nidra is a method for improving health and well-being. At a deeper level, it is a deep spiritual practice and somewhere in between is one of the deepest and most accessible ways to reshape the unconscious in a positive way.

It is a tantric practice that involves total relaxation on the ground with maximum comfort. In this state of deep relaxation it is possible to let go of deep psychic tensions or even to repair traumas.

Through guided relaxation, the practitioner is brought into a state of complete rest between sleep and dream while remaining fully conscious.

Restorative Yoga

The principle of restorative yoga is based on the realization of simple and comfortable asanas with a slow rhythm mixing with that of the breath as well as moments of relaxation.

The postures do not allow performance, but simply relaxation , while not doing anything special, just enjoying.

Restorative yoga is very gentle, allowing the body to be restored and harmonized, in particular the nervous system, to promote deep recovery and relaxation. Thus, your mind is calmed and your body relaxed. It is also a help in convalescence from an accident, an operation, an illness or quite simply to fight against stress and depression.

This practice is a good way to take a few moments to find yourself, get to know yourself (especially your “inner self”), find solutions to problems and release emotional blockages … without doing anything. You feel the benefits of restorative yoga asanas on your body and mind, while being fully aware.

A quiet atmosphere promotes the encounter with oneself .