Types of Yoga

Introduction In the US, yoga is becoming a rapidly popular practice. Yoga is a practice that creates harmony between the mind and the body and it spiritually awakens the soul. Originated India through Hindu religion. The word “yoga” is derived from the Sanskrit word yuj, meaning “to yoke” Yoga means to unite or merge. Unites mind and body through: asanas (posture), pranayama (breath control), dharana (concentration), and dhyana (meditation)

Original Hypothesis for Yoga Our hypothesis in the beginning of the semester was to find the connection between religious/spiritual realization and yoga. How can we make the connection between yoga poses and breathing techniques and spiritual nirvana?

Testing Our Hypothesis **We implemented our hypothesis in various ways -15 minute daily workout -Daily journal (kept records of struggles, achievements, and new learnings) -Weekly instructed yoga classes -Weekly blackboard posts -Group discussions -Research paper

Connections to Religion 101 We related our spiritual daily yoga practice to those of the Muslim prayers The consistency of daily practice and the connection Muslims make with God is closely related to aspects that we have practiced throughout our experience. EXAMPLES Specific breathing techniques, correct posture, daily repetition, and performance on mat. We related our spiritual daily yoga practice to those of the Muslim prayers we have learning about in Islam by Greene. Greene did not write the Islam book.

Questions How many classmates have attempted yoga in the past? Did you find it enjoyable? Has the media influenced your decisions in attempting this spiritual practice? Do you believe yoga is more beneficial to your physical or spiritual needs?

Areas of Concentration Jivamukti Yoga Kundalini Yoga Karma Yoga Iyengar Yoga Jnana Yoga Bhakti Yoga

Jivamukti Yoga Most popular type of yoga today in the US, created by David Life and Sharon Gannon. The idea of Jivamukti is that it liberates the soul from past, present, and future karma. Life and Gannon incorporate ideas of traditional yoga to help young Americans understand the practice without losing meanings, teachings, and methods. Incorporates ideas from Patanjali’s yoga Sutra, the Bhajavad-Gita, Hatha yoga, Padipika, and the Upanishads.

Jivamukti as a Class A practitioner learns understanding of the religion, vegetarianism, animal rights, environmental and social activism, music, and meditation. One may listen to a range of music including Beatles and Van Morrison because those artists celebrate the “philosophical ideals of God as love, peace, and nonviolence” The instructor will play this music because Life and Gannon feel [THIS IS NOT A FEELING] that those artists celebrate the “philosophical ideals of God as love, peace, and nonviolence”

Yoga Pose #1- Utkatasana “The Awkward Chair Pose” Bend the Knees until the thighs are almost parallel to the floor Keep the butt low Bring the arms up towards the ceiling Bring a slight back bend into the upper back Hold 5-10 breaths

Kundalini Yoga It encourages physical wellness and inspires the mind. Kundalini yoga focuses mainly on physical balance and positioning. It is based on “kriyas” or specially formulated sets of exercises. Kundalini yoga focuses on control of the lower spine and body.

How Kundalini is Beneficial to Practitioner It helps people maintain healthy bodies, and keep a firm muscle tone. Kundalini yoga increases oxygen capacity and blood flow, as well as strengthens the nervous system. It is popularly believed that Kundalini Yoga is the most admired and effective method of yoga.

Cat -Cow Stretch 1. Start in all fours, bringing the wrists underneath the shoulders and the knees underneath the hips. 2. Think of the spine as a straight line connecting the shoulders to the hips. Try visualizing the line extending forward through the crown of the head and backwards through the tail bone. 3. Keep the neck the natural extension of the spine.

Karma Yoga Karma, in the Hindu religion, is said to be work or action. Karma yoga represents the joining of both the physical and mental aspects of Hindu philosophy to produce a single concept. The main focus of Karma yoga is the performance of actions dwelling in union with the Divine, removing attachment and remaining balanced ever in success and failure. It is important to remember that “for every effect there’s a cause, and the devotee realizes that he, in his present life situation, is experiencing the effects of a number of causes which he has entertained and enacted”.

Camel Pose 1. Come up onto the knees. Take padding under the knees if they are sensitive. 2. Draw the hands up the side of the body as you start to open the chest. 3. Reach the hands back one at a time to grasp the heels. 4. Bring the hips forward so that they are over the knees. 5. Let the head come back, opening the throat.

Iyengar Yoga B.K.S. Iyengar created Iyengar yoga in the 20th century. Iyengar emphasizes the development of strength, stamina, flexibility, balance, concentration, and meditation. This form of yoga uses props such as belts, chairs, blankets, and blocks in order to support and help adjust the body in different ranges of motion. These ranges help to improve ones posture. Not only can Iyengar improve ones posture, but it can also improve the digestive, circulatory, and respiratory systems.

Iyengar Practices In Iyengar practice, one is required to master the art of breathing before he/she can work on the postures. The main idea of Iyengar yoga is the mastery of the body is the gateway to mastery of the mind. In Iyengar yoga, the soul and the body are interconnected. For example, if ones body feels poorly, then the mind will also feel poorly.

Bow Pose 1. Come to lie on the stomach, taking a blanket under the hips as padding. 2. Reach the hands back and take hold of the ankles. 3. On an inhale, draw the torso and legs up off the floor simultaneously. 4. If you can, bring the thighs to rest on the floor.

Jnana Yoga Jnana primarily focuses on knowledge and insight of the human mind. The word ‘Jnana’ means ‘wisdom’ or ‘knowledge’. Jnana Yoga is the path of Self-realization through the exercise of Gnostic understand, ( to be more precise, the wisdom associated with discerning the Real from the unreal or illusory).

Benefits of the Jnana Practitioner Jnana practitioners channel motivations and desires that may be conflicting with their everyday life. Jnana allows a person to gain a better control of his or her own mind and soul. Practitioners are known to behave the most disciplined of all those who partake in yoga practices.

Bridge Pose 1. Come to lie on the back. 2. Bend the knees, bringing the soles of the feet parallel on the mat close to the buttocks. 3. Lift the hips up towards the ceiling. 4. Interlace the fingers behind your back and straighten the arms, pressing them down into the mat. 5. Roll one shoulder under and then the other. 6. Lift the hips higher. 7. Draw the chest toward the chin, but do not move the chin toward the chest. 8. Make sure the feet stay parallel. 9. Release the hands and bring the upper, middle, and then lower back down. 10. Rest , allowing the knees to knock together

Bhakti Yoga Bhakti focuses principally on emotional forces of human beings. Bhakti yoga is based on a person becoming purified and channeling their anger toward the Divine. ‘Bhakti’ roots from the word ‘bhaj’ which means to share or participate in. It is known as the Yoga of love and devotion. Bhakti Yoga involves self-dedication, many practitioners that partake in this yoga leave with a higher sense of self-confidence.

Bhakti emphasis on deity Bhakti can also mean the devotion of one individual to another individual. Often a statue or picture of a deity (Jesus, Buddha, etc.) is displayed during this type of yoga. The love and devotion towards the other individual, as well as themselves, provides spiritual meaning to the yoga process.

Hypothesis Proven We found a connection between yoga practice and religious achievement by focusing on channeling our inner thoughts and beliefs into relaxing positions and postures. We found ourselves closer to God by channeling our thoughts into the positive aspects in life rather than the negative. We found a transition between a basic exercise into a holy practice. We also found holiness entering our everyday lives by being less stressed, and turning to God for guidance. We entered yoga practice with a sense of loss towards spirituality and ended with a closeness to God. What on earth does this mean?

Concluding Questions After attaining a new perspective of yoga, do you feel differently about the practice? As a new knowledgeable practitioner of yoga, do you find yoga to relieve stress? Do you feel more spiritually inclined? Would encourage others to partake in yoga? Will you continue your journey of yoga practice? ***We recommend attending classes held at JCU*** Tuesdays & Thursdays, 7:30 pm in the Gym Annex