About Yoga

What is Hatha Yoga?
By definition, hatha is a physical yoga practice, which is pretty much all yoga you’ll find in this hemisphere. One of the six original branches of yoga, "hatha" encompasses nearly all types of modern yoga. In other words, hatha can be thought of as the ice cream with styles like ashtanga and Bikram being flavors like vanilla and chocolate chip. Today, classes described as "hatha" on studio schedules are typically a basic and classical approach to yogic breathing exercises and postures. .

What is Vinyasa Yoga?
An active and more athletic style of yoga adapted from the traditional ashtanga system in the late 1980s to appeal to "Westerners". Vinyasa yoga doesn't stick to the same sequence of poses each time like ashtanga does, so the style varies depending on the teacher. Classes called "vinyasa" or "flow" can be vastly different but in general stem from this movement and from ashtanga as well.

What is Iyengar Yoga?
This is a purist form of yoga named after founder B.K.S. Iyengar. Props like blocks, straps, harnesses and incline boards are used to get you more perfectly into positions and have given the style its nickname: "furniture yoga." Appropriate for all ages and abilities, Iyengar yoga is all about precise alignment and deliberate sequencing. But don't take that to mean that it’s easy.

What is Yin Yoga?
A quiet, meditative yoga practice, also called taoist yoga. Yin focuses on lengthening connective tissues and is meant to complement yang yoga — a muscle-building style like Anusara, Ashtanga, Iyengar or what have you. Yin poses are passive, meaning you're supposed to relax your muscles and let gravity do the work. And as the holds are long — you'll practice patience here, too.

What is Restorative Yoga?

The term restorative yoga comes from "to restore", meaning to come back to a former, original or normal condition. Enjoy a deep state of relaxation by completely supporting the body in propped-up asanas, or postures. This allows you to rest and surrender completely, to gently release and embrace what is —allowing prana or vital life energy to flow and to establish an access to intuition and inner peace. Winding down for 90 min with passive, earthy, restorative poses is an ideal practice after a strenuous week and for anyone who wants to work deeply without force.

What are some of the benefits of yoga?

• Improves Balance & Posture: Yoga focuses on proper alignment – which helps you stand and sit straighter.
• Increases Flexibility: You don't need to be flexible to do yoga – flexibility comes with practice. Yoga strengthens the back and core: in some cases, yoga can be more effective for improving back conditions than standard medical treatments.
• Strengthens Bones: Yoga can increase bone density.
• Improves Lung Capacity: Controlled breathing is an important component of yoga and regulating your inhalations, exhalations and the pauses between them can help your overall breathing.
• Lowers Stress: Studies show that yoga can enhance sleep as well as trigger brain chemicals that combat anxiety and depression

What is the significance of the word Om?
Some classes briefly sing the sound Om, usually at the beginning or end — it’s pronounced A-U-M). Since it should never become an empty ritual for teachers and students, you can  feel free to chant if it suits you, but never feel obligated to join in. What’s the meaning of om? Ancient books and the latest science both agree: Everything in the universe is pulsating and vibrating – nothing is really standing still. The sound Om, when chanted, vibrates at the frequency of 432 Hz, which is the same vibrational frequency found throughout everything in nature. As such, OM is looked at as the basic sound of the universe. By chanting it we are symbolically and physically tuning in to that sound and acknowledging our connection to all other living beings, nature and the universe.