Classes

Yoga

Yoga origins date back 4000 years to India. The word 'yoga' is derived from the Sanskrit word that means 'yoke' or 'union' promoting that yoga has an effect on the whole person, the physical, mental and spiritual sides.

In yoga it is believed that the body's essence of life, or prana, is contained in the breath. Thus breathing methods can have beneficial effects on the general health. There are a variety of exercises, each promotes a different type of breathing, such as the rib cage, shoulder and diaphragm.

Some of the movements and stances in use were originally devised from the observation of animals, since they appeared to be adept at relaxation and moved with minimum effort. These stances aim to increase freedom of movement and make the person aware of the various parts of the body and any stress that may be present. The aim is to concentrate on self knowledge.

Yoga is suitable for all ages. In India, some children begin yoga from the age of five. The benefits of improved health, fitness and concentration are well-documented, and now many schools in the West are beginning to teach yoga. The practice has been shown to enhance self confidence, self reliance, academic performance and the ability to cope with stressful situations, such as exams.

There are six main paths of yoga:

Karma yoga, the yoga of action, the practitioner devotes his or her life to selfless action.
Jnanga yoga, this is the path knowledge and wisdom. The main practices of Jnana yoga are study and meditation.
Bhakti yoga, this is the path of devotion and prayer.
Mantra yoga, this is the path of sacred sound. Self realization comes from repetition, silently or aloud, phrases or words known as mantras.
Raja yoga, the yoga of physical and mental control.
Hatha yoga, this is the path of physical control and is regarded as a preparation for the pursuit of Raja yoga (which involves physical strength and breath control). Hatha is the most popular type in the West. It combines physical postures, breathing exercises, cleansing processes and mindful awareness of the physical and the subtle bodies to prepare for contemplation and meditation.

With the discipline of Hatha yoga, there are several teaching styles, Iyengar yoga, Astanga vinyasa yoga, Dynamic Yoga, Jivamukti yoga, Bikram yoga, Viniyoga, Sivananda yoga, Bihar yoga.

Thus there is a different style for each individual needs.

A good way to find a yoga class is to try a few different ones until you find one that suits your personal needs.

Yoga can also be practised at home, to fit around your schedules.

It is said that every step along the path of yoga brings you nearer to enlightenment. Every moment spent seeking this state, whether consciously or unconsciously, is a moment well used.