Ace-Yoga

Yoga Uncovered: Your Ultimate Beginners Guide

By Sharon O’Connell

Yoga is hot right now (not least because it’s summer), from celebrities to expectant mothers everyone seems to be doing it. But, what can it do for you, which type would you enjoy, and what does Jivamutki actually mean?

Yoga is hot right now (not least because it’s summer), from celebrities to expectant mothers everyone seems to be doing it. But, what can it do for you, which type would you enjoy, and what does Jivamutki actually mean?

Yoga is hot right now (not least because it’s summer), from celebrities to expectant mothers everyone seems to be doing it. But, what can it do for you, which type would you like, and what does Jivamutki actually mean?

The Benefits
Yoga can help you to deal with the emotional upswings and difficulties often experienced through the stresses of modern day living, such as fear, anger, depression, impatience and frustration. Your overall experience of life will be more peaceful, calm and rosy. With yoga, happiness, higher levels of self-esteem, confidence and clarity all become much greater. Equally important are the physical benefits: the body’s natural functions and healing abilities are improved; you have more energy, flexibility, strength and tone.

Which type of yoga suits you?

Hatha
Hatha is a gentle paced yoga involving stretching with a focus on alignment. It uses asanas and pranayama to relieve tension, and stiffness and stress to increase energy and balance the physical, mental and spiritual self. Suitable for all levels of ability.

Bikram
A series of 26 hatha postures and two breathing exercises practiced in a heated room. Effective for bringing alignment, strength, stamina, flexibility, slimming and toning. Works every part of the body maximising oxygenation and detoxification. Bikram is suitable for all levels of ability, bringing an incredible sense of well-being.

Yogabeats
A fun, eclectic mix of styles for all levels of fitness. It’s practised against rhythmic and ambient world music, using micro-moves; continuous movements that don’t lock off the muscles or disrupt the blood flow, which increases flexibility.

Vinyasa flow yoga
A free flowing form of yoga that links the breath with the movement. It tends to be more dynamic although can be taught in a slow-flow, alignment based way.

Dharma mittra vinyasa
Challenging and physically absorbing, designed to reintegrate the flow of energy through the spinal column and emanate deep into all areas of the physical, metabolic and spiritual bodies. Includes balancing, twisting, back bending, inversions and focused relaxation.

Kundalini
One of the more spiritual types of yoga, kundalini represents untapped energy that lies dormant at the base of the spine until awakened and raised through the chakras to the crown. Includes asanas, pranayama breathing, mantra, meditation, diet and worship.

Jivamukti
Integrates the physical, philosophical and spiritual aspects of yoga. Emphasis is on vigorous asana as its primary technique set against lively music, but other practices such as meditation, devotional chanting and ancient texts play a role.

Power yoga
Challenging and fulfilling incorporating a sequence of poses to create a flow of breath and movement to tone, strengthen, increase flexibility and leave you feeling calm, cleansed and energised.

Sivananda
Synthesises the wisdom of yoga into eight principles – asanas, pranayama, relaxation – physical, mental and spiritual, diet (vegetarian), positive thinking and meditation.