The Practice of Yoga

There are two unique components in yoga—the philosophy and the practice. These two create a powerful interplay, with each informing and refining the other, to forge a unity of body-mind-spirt. Both the practice and philosophy of yoga have a long history and a rich depth of knowledge. They are both essential aspects to examine and investigate in the practice of yoga.

The 5 paths of yoga

There are five main branches of yoga. These traditional types of yoga include Tantric yoga, Karma yoga, Raja yoga, Jnana yoga and Bhakti yoga. These are not practiced on a yoga mat—they are the more internal and meditative aspects of classical yoga. In our yoga practice section, we primarily focus on the techniques and practices of hatha yoga, the physical or forceful path of yoga, which includes the physical poses and breathing techniques.

Styles of hatha yoga

There are many modern styles of hatha yoga. The most popular styles of yoga classes are Ashtanga yoga, Vinyasa yoga, Hot yoga, Gentle yoga, Restorative yoga, and Yin yoga. These modern styles of yoga incorporate various amounts of asana (postures), pranayama (breathing exercises), kriya (cleansing practices), bandhas (energy locks), mudras (gestures), and meditation.

Why practice yoga?

Yoga students practice yoga because it helps them feel better about ourselves. There are many amazing benefits of yoga—it makes us stronger, calmer, happier, healthier, and more flexible. Yoga also gives us a chance to connect with our bodies, minds, and spirits in ways that no other physical activity does. A regular yoga practice allows us to explore parts of ourselves that we might otherwise ignore. It provides a safe space where we can try new things, fail, and try again. It teaches us patience, perseverance, balance and humility.

Students and yoga teachers report multiple reasons for adopting and maintaining a regular yoga practice. Most yoga practitioners begin by adopting the practice of yoga for exercise and stress relief, but later discover other reasons, such as relaxation, flexibility, improved health, reduced depression, and anxiety relief. For many, the primary reason for maintaining a yoga practice is spirituality.

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