Introduction to Ayurveda

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“Music is the medium for expressing emotion. Music kindles love and infuses hope. It has countless voices and instruments. Music is in the hearts of all men and women.”
— Swami Sivananda

Everything in the universe is energy. Energy creates vibrations and vibrations create sound. Hence, the existence of energy in music. Using music for yoga and meditation is a practice that is not foreign to yogis. Kirtan, bhajans and the chanting of mantras are all yogic methods to uplift the spirit and heighten the state of consciousness.

Whether it is the harmonious vibrations of Tibetan singing bowls, the comforting rhythm of waves on the shores or the mesmerizing notes of a musical instrument, the human mind can absorb sound and easily settle into a place of stillness.

RELATED CONTENT || Gentle Vinyasa Yoga Playlist

The use of music for a yoga practice can create the mood, generate positive vibrations and encourage grace within the pause and movement through asanas (yoga postures). When creating a playlist for a yoga class, it should be balanced without the distraction of complex beats and rhythms. It should be played at a volume that compliments the practice without overpowering it. Whether it’s a vinyasa, power or yin class, the music should complement the vibe and intention.

Here are 10 artists on Spotify to help inspire your yoga practice:

DJ Taz Rashid

DJ Taz Rashid brings a high vibrational energy to any room instantly by mixing the beats and rhythms of Love, Ancient New World, House, Devotional, and all the cosmic sounds. His vision is to be a channel to cause the expansion of all those around by tapping into the creative wisdom of the body and allowing them to feel, let go and awaken.

RELATED CONTENT || Inspiration To Share When Teaching a Yoga Class

Deva Premal

With original chants that are used for meditation, yoga, stress management, massage, and sleep playlists worldwide, Deva Premal & Miten not only model spiritually-conscious living but also share powerful tools for wellness, mindfulness, and personal growth.

Trevor Hall

Singer/songwriter Trevor Hall realized at a young age that music was more than just a passion – it was his life’s art. He studied classical guitar at Idyllwild Arts Academy in California, where he was introduced to the practices of yoga and meditation, which greatly influence his life and his music.

Hall’s music, a blend of roots and folk music, is imbued with a deep love of Eastern Mysticism. This powerful symbiosis fostered a deep connectivity with his growing fan base and Trevor quickly matured into a leader of the burgeoning conscious musical community.

RELATED CONTENT || The Most Popular Styles of Yoga Explained

East Forest

East Forest invites patience. Patience, while typically thought of as kryptonite in the instant gratification, hyper-speed world of music and modern life, might just be the medicine we need.

Full of rich bass, introspective soundscapes, the combination of nature, and live instrumentation ranging from a wooden flute to a melodica, East Forest doesn’t just create sound, he creates narrative.

Sol Rising

Sol Rising began meditating at age four with a walking mantra technique. His mother took him to visit numerous spiritual teachers, who inspired him on the spiritual path he walks today.

Sol Rising’s original soundscapes evoke feelings of inspiration and bliss through an eclectic mix of electronic music, mid-tempo house, chill-trap, ambient and hip-hop.

RELATED CONTENT || Vinyasa Yoga Playlist

Garth Stevenson

Double bassist and composer Garth Stevenson, was raised in the mountains of Western Canada, where nature became his primary inspiration and the common thread between his life and music. His music is informed by his experiences carrying his 150-year-old double bass to the woods, beach, desert and other remote locations including Antarctica and Tuva.

Garth Stevenson has been leading Music Meditation Hikes for the past ten years. With his double bass strapped to his back, he leads groups on hikes to beautiful locations in nature where he improvises music that blends and interacts with the natural environment.

Dr. Toast

Dr. Toast produces dark, beautiful textures, melodies and rhythms fit to welcome the sunrise, while adding just a hint of mischief.

The Human Experience

The Human Experience listeners experience a delicious symphonic blend of prismatic soundscapes and sultry beats that has been described as the soundtrack to the soul.

Each song is a sonic journey; interweaving psychedelic layers of melody and harmony with organic grooves and international vibes.

RELATED CONTENT || 67 Beautiful Quotes to Inspire Your Practice and Your Life

These artists are also worth checking out for your next practice:

MC Yogi

Odesza

DJ Drez

Janet Stone

Music provides a powerful energy that pulls people together as well as invites them to go deeper within the layers of themselves. While yoga classes and practices without music have their time and place, music can be the perfect pairing with yoga to help enrich the practice and explore emotions.

Looking for playlists? Checkout the playlists I’ve curated to include the artists above (and others) for vinyasa, yin and gentle yoga classes: Yoga Playlists

Pin for later:

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When teaching a yoga class, words can be a powerful means of carrying us into the language of the body. The right words become the guide that takes us from a mindset of intellectualizing and analytical thinking to a mindset of feeling.

RELATED CONTENT || Beginner’s Guide to the 7 Chakras

Inspiration that uses words to bridge the language of the mind and the language of the soul. Quotes and poems can remind us that we are all connected and share the same emotions.

I begin the class by leading students to awareness of breath. And, as the class connects to their breath gently transitioning from the day to the mat, I read the first part of the inspiration as an introduction to the theme. Throughout the class I refer back to the theme to create parallels between the words and the yoga practice. In closing, after savasana, I read the second part of the inspiring piece and tie it all together- asana + yoga philosophy + class theme + life.

I strive to bring life to the spiritual power of yoga and to honor live your yoga, using the poems to provide inspiration for on and off the mat.

RELATED CONTENT || The Most Popular Styles of Yoga Explained

Note: The inspiration is a combination of excerpts, poems, and some of my own thoughts and words.

Inspiration for Yoga Teachers

Just for Now
by Danna Faulds

Just for now, without asking how, let yourself sink into stillness. Just for now, lay down the weight you so patiently bear upon your shoulders. Feel the earth receive you, and the infinite expanse of the sky grow even wider as your awareness reaches up to meet it.

Just for now, allow a wave of breath to enliven your experience. Breathe out whatever blocks you from the truth.

Just for now, be boundless, free, with awakened energy tingling in your hands and feet. Drink in the possibility of being who and what you really are – so fully alive that the world looks different, newly born and vibrant, just for now.

Walk Slowly
Danna Faulds

It only takes a reminder to breathe, a moment to be still, and just like that, something in you settles, softens, makes space for imperfection. The harsh voice of judgment drops to a whisper and you remember again that life isn’t a relay race; that waking up to life is what we were born for. As many times as you forget, catch yourself charging forward, that many times you can make the choice  to stop, to breathe, to be, and to walk slowly into the mystery.  

Let Your Body Lead You
Melody Beattie

Our bodies can help provide us with direction.

Many of us have heard the expression I’m leaning toward that or I’m leaning away from that. When we’re centered, balanced and connected, our body will help show us what we really want to do. We will literally lean toward or away from what we like or don’t like. 

We’ve all spent time in our lives, and in our practice, forcing our body into situations, circumstances and poses that the body resisted and moved back from. Then we wondered why we felt uncomfortable. 

Learn to open to the subtle guidance and messages your body sends to you about what it likes, what it dislikes, what it leans toward, and what it leans away from. Learn to listen to where it’s leading you and move accordingly. 

RELATED CONTENT || How To Master the Body Mind Connection

Listening To the Voice of Your Heart
Melody Beattie

Cultivate the art of listening to your intuition, your inner voice. This is the guidance of your heart. It’s a voice that speaks differently from the one in your head. The heart whispers softly; the head rambles loudly.

The head has an agenda for our lives. It chatters away boldly; but it’s vision is limited. It leaves no room for the mysterious workings of the universe, nor does it take into account the side trips we need to take to get where we’re going. Where we need to go. It’s the voice that says, This is the way it’s going to be.

The heart, the inner voice, speaks differently. Sometimes it whispers. Sometimes it pulls. Sometimes it pushes. It’s spontaneous, in the present moment, and often a surprise. The heart takes into account what has to be done and the best way to do that. The heart takes emotions info account- the way things feel, the way you feel, the wisdom of your soul. The heart leads us into and through the lessons we’re here to learn. 

Cultivate your inner voice. Practice listening to the whispers of your heart. Practice trusting your intuition, what you really feel, what you really know. Practice until that voice is the one you hear.

Be patient. Be gentle. Let yourself learn to hear the gentle and trustworthy words of your heart. On and off the mat.

Relax
Melody Beattie

Too often out of sheer habit we tighten up, tense up and approach life from this stance. When we have something to do our automatic response may be to tense up- shoulders and neck strained, back bent, and breathing shallow. But anything that needs to be done can be done better if we’re relaxed.

Learn to relax. Program your body, each part of it, to let go and be at ease. Allow yourself to come into your natural posture and alignment. Learn to relax until moving, acting, speaking, being all come naturally from this relaxed place.

Find activities that help you do this. Yoga. A hot bath. A massage. Walking. Meditating. Teach yourself to become aware of how your body feels during these activities. Memorize that feeling. Practice relaxing until you can recall that memory and carry it throughout your day.

Periodically throughout the day, take a few moments to check your tension level. If you find any part of your body tense, take a few moments to consciously relax that part. Visualize warmth and ease flooding any part of your body that has become tight. Release the strain, the tension, the stress from your body. 

Your body wants to relax. Your body wants to be comfortable.

Embrace Transition

The transition between postures is a nebulous space. It is similar to the end of an exhale where we completely let go and embrace the next breath. The full expression of a pose comes within the transitional space. The space between the poses; it is a passageway full of information about our practice and life.

Transitions are connectors or bridges to the bigger picture. When we emerge from the transitional space we create our full expression of the pose. How we treat the passageway to the end result is reflective of how we move through life. Is it just a means to an end or do we approach the transition with as much enthusiasm and awareness as the postures? How we engage the passageway between postures is as important as the posture; it shows us how we feel about the process and the poses.

How we approach transitions in yoga reveals how we approach those undefined, ambiguous areas in our lives. If we do not use our abdominal muscles when moving from downward dog to lunge, we lack strength and grounding. We need to notice how we handle changes and transitions in our lives and use tools that support us. Do we embrace the process and experience a smooth transition to the bigger picture or do we muddle through hoping to reach the end result without experiencing the process?

Yoga reminds us that life is always in transition. Every day is new, and each new day invites us to have a fresh mind and an open heart. We often expect the day (or ourselves) to be the same as yesterday or as it will be tomorrow. Life is full of uncertainty and surprises. In life and in yoga we need to be present to our individual process. Pay attention to how you move from pose to pose and day to da. When we refine our transitional movement we learn to fluidly move through life with grace and ease.

Mindfulness

Rest your awareness on various facets of life without analyzing or judgement. Notice how you feel- emotions, physical sensations, thoughts.

Rest your awareness on the immediate environment- notice sounds, temp, body connecting to the mat. Being mindful of feelings and physical sensations and letting go.

Bring your awareness inward- notice feelings and physical sensations that come with a shift in awareness from the external to the internal. Are you relaxed, energized, neutral?

Create awareness without analyzing or judgement. Allow the thoughts and feelings to come and go.

Bring mindfulness to day to day life, bring your awareness inward- notice life an internal perspective. Are you relaxed, energized, neutral?

Create awareness without analyzing or judgement. Without holding onto the past or grasping for the future.

Trust Each Step
Melody Beattie

Stay present for each step of your journey. We don’t go from one place to another in one gigantic  leap. We get there in increments, but going through each feeling, each belief, each experience one step at a time.

Sometimes when we pray for miracles, what we’re really praying for is help in skipping steps, for shortcuts. The simple act of acceptance, of returning to each step of our path, can often bring us the miracle we need. Then we see the truth. The real miracle is one always available to each of us, it’s the miracle of acceptance. We can go where we want to go one step at a time.

Stay present for each step of your journey. Trust each stage. Many things are possible for you if you can accept that the fastest way is one step at a time.

Being Truly Thankful

Our gratitude deepens when we begin to be thankful for being alive and living the life we are living.

Often when we practice being thankful, we go through the process of counting our blessings, acknowledging the wonderful people, things and places that make up our reality. While it is fine to be grateful for the good fortune we have accumulated, true thankfulness stems from a powerful comprehension of the gift of simply being alive. 

In this deep state of gratitude, we recognize the purity of the experience of being, in and of itself, and our thankfulness is part of our awareness that we are one with this great mystery that is life.

Create a deep state of gratitude and recognize the purity of the experience of being. 

It is difficult for most of us to access this level of consciousness as we are very caught up in the ups and downs of our individual experiences in the world. The thing to remember about the world, though, is that it ebbs and flows, expands and contracts, gives and takes, and is by its very nature somewhat unreliable. 

No one is exempt from the twists and turns of fate.

Tuning in to our breath and making an effort to be fully present for a set period of time each day can do wonders for our ability to connect with true gratitude.

Self Compassion

Practicing yoga presents us with many opportunities for exploring self-compassion. The first of the yamas or ethical guidelines that Patanjali gives in the Yoga Sutras is ahimsa or non-harming, encompassing words, thoughts, and actions. Most of us learned this golden rule while still on the playground, and yet in daily life and even in a yoga class, we create struggle and inner conflict, striving for our idea of the perfect pose or competing with other students and ourselves, trying to top our “personal best,” as though asana and life was a contest or performance. 

Self-compassion is not merely a state of being or quality; it’s a practice, and we learn it through experience. During asana, pranayama, meditation, and other yoga practices, we learn to observe and befriend the body and mind—developing self-awareness and discernment. 

These are the lessons we can take from the yoga studio into the world beyond.

Take a moment to contemplate: What are some ways yoga has helped you develop self-compassion?

Winter Solstice

Winter Solstice is the astronomical first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and the shortest and darkest day of the year. We experience fewer hours of sunlight. And then, the days begin to get longer. 

In the depths of the darkness of winter, we are called to ignite our faith, belief and trust that the light will return again. The Winter Solstice, represents both the darkness and the light. As hidden in the darkest of nights, lies the knowing that the light is returning.

On this day we are called to use this powerful turning point in our year as a time to turn our attention inwards, to call in stillness, and reflect on all that has been before we begin this new year ahead.

Winter calls for us to be still, the earth lies dormant calling for us to do the same. Animals hibernate, trees grow bare, plants, flowers and herbs all die, only awaiting to be reborn again in spring. Nature needs this time, and so do we.

We are being called to slow down, to step back, to be with our loved ones, to listen rather than speak, to be rather than do.

The Winter Solstice reminds us that it’s just as important to honor the dark as it is the light. For they are the two halves that make up the whole. Let us not fear the darkness, but give gratitude, love + honor to all that has been, all that is now and all that is to come.

Listen To Your Inner Voice
Melodie Beatty

Our inner voice, that quiet guide within, will lead us along our path, will help us create our destiny, will keep us in harmony.

So much stress comes from not listening, not trusting our inner voice. So much confusion comes from trying to act before we have heard, before we are guided. So much pain comes from when we deny what that voice is saying. We wonder how we can trust ourselves. The better question is, how can we not trust ourselves?

RELATED CONTENT || Yoga Playlists with Link To Spotify

What are your favorite words of inspiration to share when teaching a yoga class?

Peace + Wellness

The post Inspiration To Share When Teaching a Yoga Class appeared first on Jill Conyers.

Yoga is a light, which once lit will never dim. The better your practice, the brighter your flame. ― B.K.S Iyengar

Vinyasa Yoga Playlist – Let It All Go
Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Lets connect and share music: Jill Conyers @ Spotify

MORE YOGA PLAYLISTS

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Yoga is a dance between control and surrender – between pushing and letting go – and when to push and when to let go becomes part of the creative process, part of the open-ended exploration of your being. 
-Joel Kramer

Vinyasa Yoga Playlist
Time: 1 hour 37 minutes

Lets connect and share music: Jill Conyers @ Spotify

MORE YOGA PLAYLISTS

The post Vinyasa Yoga Playlist appeared first on Jill Conyers.

Gift giving made easy with this curated gift guide for giving the gift of wellness to someone special in  your life.

This is a sponsored post on behalf of adidas. All writing, opinions and photography are my own.

We’re here to help you navigate giving the gift of wellness.

Shop our favorite self-care gift ideas for yourself or the person in your life who loves all things wellness:

Wanderlust Warp Knit Crop Top

A crop top for yogis and fitness enthusiasts. With a comfortable fit this crop top gives unrestricted movement through barre workout, yoga session and Pilates classes. It’s made of soft, seamless knit with ventilation where it’s needed most. 

Designed in collaboration with Wanderlust, the epic yoga and wellness festival.

RELATED CONTENT || 67 Beautiful Yoga Quotes To Inspire Your Practice and Your Life

Wanderlust Warp Knit Tights

Flex and flow with the changes. These tights are seamless and stretchy, and comfortable on the move. They’re made from super-soft knit that hugs the body like a second skin.

Designed in collaboration with Wanderlust, the epic yoga and wellness festival.

RELATED CONTENT || The Most Popular Styles of Yoga Explained

Black Dahlia X Yield CBD Candles Collection

We all have that friend who is constantly on the go and in need of some extra self care, especially during the holiday season. Luxury candlemaker, YIELD, recently created the Black Dahlia X YIELD CBD Collection of clean-burning candles that instill a sense of calm the moment you light it. A great addition to a personal home retreat space.

The candles from the Black Dahlia CBD Collection are infused with pure CBD and revolutionary CBD naturally-derived from organic hemp grown in the U.S. They’re also made from sustainably sourced ingredients such as coconut, shea butter, beeswax blends, essential oils and terpenes, and poured into a double-wall glassware to be reused as a drinking vessel.

Aura Cacia Discover Essential Oils Kit

This essential oil kit is great for new users to discover some of the most popular and versatile oils. These four pure essential oils, Lavender, Patchouli, Sweet Orange, and Chill Pill, provide true aromatherapy benefits. Discover over 25 beneficial ways to use essential oils along with tips, recipes, dilution and safety guidelines.

Aura Cacia Ultrasonic Essential Oil Diffuser

The Aura Cacia Ultrasonic Essential Oil Diffuser disperses a fine, cool mist of essential oils and water. Its simple design works well in any room.

A truly portable diffuser with USB operation and no need for water; this simple, portable diffuser uses a quiet fan to diffuse essential oils into your personal space at home or in the office.

RELATED CONTENT || How To Create a Personal Home Retreat

Vegan Burgers and Burritos Cookbook

For healthy foodies, vegetarians, vegans and anyone that loves a good burger or burrito, this cookbook can be summed up in one word: FLAVOR. OK, maybe two words: EPIC flavor. These next level veggie burgers and burritos recipes are approachable for any chef, and the flavor combinations are unlike any other you’ve ever had.

Of the 75 delicious recipes, all are plant-based, gluten free and feature real, whole food ingredients, along with recipes for side dishes and sauce pairings.

Check out Sophia’s recipes at Veggies Don’t Bite.

The Pure Heart of Yoga: 10 Essential Steps for Personal Transformation

Yoga enthusiasts of all kinds will discover effective tools for creating a life of healthful beauty and inner peace. This book is an invitation to experience yoga as the ancient masters intended it-a holistic way of life that unites the body, mind, and spirit for complete health and well-being.

A 10-step guide on with clear instructions on the path of yoga based on traditional yogic principles and practices, yet designed to fit seamlessly into your life.

RELATED CONTENT || Life Changing Health and Wellness Books You Need to Read

Garmin vívosmart 4, Activity and Fitness Tracker

For the fitness enthusiast and athlete on our list, a slim activity tracker with a fashionable design and easy-to-read display. Includes advanced sleep monitoring with REM sleep, all day stress tracking, relaxation breathing timer, and activity timers. Can be worn while swimming.

Includes a wrist-based heart rate, all-day stress tracking, relaxation breathing timer, VO2 max, and Body Battery energy monitor. 

Teabloom Complete Tea Set

Flowering Tea brings together elegance and art to loose green tea. Pioneered by Teabloom, artisans take freshly picked green tea leaves from higher elevation gardens and hand sew them with edible flowers to come up with exclusive flavors and exotic designs. When steeped in hot water, these leaves slowly blossom into a bouquet of breathtaking flowers and exquisite flavors.

Miroco Light Therapy Lamp

Sunlight is an essential ingredient for a healthy lifestyle, but many of us don’t get the amount of daylight we need to experience its benefits.

Miroco Light Therapy Lamps mimic sunlight to enhance mood, energy, sleep & focus – but without the UV rays.

Light therapy helps with common problems such as winter blues, sleep disorders, light deprivation, jet lag, shift work and other symptoms alleviated by exposure to healthy light.

RELATED CONTENT || 7 Dimensions of Wellness for a Healthy and Happy Life

Looking for a few more ideas?

How about a yoga studio or gym membership? Any one of the books on this must read Wellness Book List would make a great gift. And, the journals here, 14 Journals That Make It Easy To Start a Journaling Practice would make a great gift.

BROWSE THE YOGA + WELLNESS SHOP FOR MORE GIFT IDEAS. MAYBE GIVE YOURSELF THE GIFT OF WELLNESS WHILE YOU’RE AT IT!

The post Health & Wellness Gift Guide for Women appeared first on Jill Conyers.

The goal is to create space where you were once stuck. To unveil layers of protection you’ve built around your heart. To appreciate your body and become aware of the mind and the noise it creates. To make peace with who you are. The goal is to love, well, you.

Shift your focus and your heart will grow.

Vinyasa Yoga Playlist
Time: 1 hour 33 minutes

Lets connect and share music: Jill Conyers @ Spotify

MORE YOGA PLAYLISTS

The post Vinyasa Yoga Playlist appeared first on Jill Conyers.

Yoga teaches us to relax physically, focus on our minds, and keep our problems in perspective. It also helps to counteract the stresses and strains of the modern world, making it the perfect antidote to the rapidly changing pace of our busy lives.

Yoga is a place of discovery and connection with your own body that encompasses balance, proper stretching techniques, breathing, meditation, centering the mind and spirit — that’s yoga in its real form.

RELATED CONTENT | Yoga Playlists

The key to connecting with your mind, body, and spirit through yoga is to match your practice with your personality and your physical needs. There are so many different styles and flavors of yoga—from a rigorous and sweaty Ashtanga class, to an alignment-based, heart-opening Vinyasa class, to the gentle, soul-awakening Restorative class—each style of yoga will give you a different way to connect with the ancient wisdom of yoga

Styles of Yoga Explained

AERIAL YOGA

Float. Hang. Bend.

Aerial yoga — sometimes called anti-gravity yoga — involves traditional yoga poses with the added support of a strong, silky hammock that hangs from the ceiling. The hammock is used as a supportive prop in poses like pigeon or downward dog, and helps you more easily perform inverted poses (like headstands and handstands) that might otherwise be beyond your abilities or comfort levels. It’s also used for a cocoon-like savasana (the final resting pose at the end of a yoga class).

Aerial yoga combines traditional yoga with moves inspired by pilates, dance and acrobatics.

WHO MIGHT LIKE AERIAL YOGA: 

Those who want a nontraditional yoga experience, or anyone who wants the benefits of inversions but might fear going upside down on their own.

ASHTANGA YOGA

Breathe. Focus. Move.

Based on ancient teachings, this style of yoga was popularized in the late 1970s in Mysore, India. The dynamic physically demanding practice synchronizes breath and movement to produce an internal heat designed to purify the body.

Ashtanga yoga postures are grouped into six series; each series building on the one before. Students “flow” rapidly through the sequence, linking one asana to the next with an inhale or exhale – a breath-synchronized movement, or vinyasa.

It typically takes a practitioner between 60 to 90 minutes to get through the complete sequence.

WHO MIGHT LIKE ASHTANGA YOGA: 

Anyone who likes routine or a more physical yet spiritual practice.

RELATED CONTENT | Yoga Guide for Beginners

BIKRAM YOGA

Sweat. Balance. Sweat.

Bikram Yoga was founded by the guru Bikram Choudhury in 1974. Practiced in a room heated to 104 degrees Fahrenheit and 60 percent humidity and contains a set series of poses. It’s comprised of 26 postures practiced in systematic sequence with 2 breathing exercises. The aim of the practice is to gain focus and discipline, while detoxifying the body and gaining strength and flexibility.

Don’t confuse hot yoga with Bikram. Hot yoga is similar because it is taught in a heated room, be it doesn’t go through the exact same trademarked series of 26 poses. Hot yoga is very popular and you can find any style of yoga taught in a heated room.

WHO MIGHT LIKE BIKRAM YOGA: 

Anyone who likes to sweat, someone who wants a more physical practice, or those who like routine.

HATHA YOGA

Move. Hold. Learn.

Hatha yoga derives its name from the Sanskrit words for sun and moon, and it’s designed to balance opposing forces. The balance in hatha yoga might come from strength and flexibility, physical and mental energy, or breath and the body. Hatha is a blanket term for many different yoga ‘styles’ that use the body as a means for self-inquiry with asana, pranayama and meditation.

A traditional Hatha Yoga class will most likely include a series of asanas (yoga postures), done one after another, without much attention on the transitions between them. You can expect to hold poses for around five breaths each, making it a fairly accessible practice for most students.

WHO MIGHT LIKE HATHA YOGA: 

Anyone looking for a balanced practice, or those in search of a gentler type of yoga. Hatha is a slower-paced practice, which focuses on breathing and basic poses, so it’s a great practice for beginners.

IYENGAR YOGA

Alignment. Body. Mind.

B.K.S. Iyengar developed his classical, alignment-based practice in India. This type of yoga became popular in the US in the 1970s. B.K.S. Iyengar refined the use of props in the practice of yoga to allow all practitioners access to the benefits of the postures regardless of physical condition, age, or length of study. While considered optional in many practices, multiple props are used in Iyengar classes — including chairs, walls, and benches, in addition to more common ones like straps, blocks, and bolsters.

The Iyengar method develops strength, endurance, and optimal body alignment, in addition to flexibility and relaxation.  The Iyengar method develops self-awareness, intelligent evaluation, and profound inward reflection. The attention to detail and cultivation of awareness is meant to not only maintain physical safety in the practice but to develop the mental benefits of a complete meditation in action.

No two classes are ever exactly the same. The variation in sequencing of Iyengar classes is influenced by the level and condition of the student, time of day, time of year, and many other factors.

WHO MIGHT LIKE IYENGAR YOGA: 

Those who like detailed instructions, anyone with physical limitations, or those in search of a more classical form of yoga.

KUNDALINI YOGA

Chant. Move. Meditate.

Yogi Bhajan, teacher, and spiritual leader, brought this style of yoga to the West in the late 1960s.

Kundalini yoga is also called the “yoga of awareness.” An uplifting blend of spiritual and physical practices, Kundalini Yoga incorporates movement, dynamic breathing techniques, meditation, and the chanting of mantras, such as Sat Nam, meaning “truth identity.” The goal is to build physical vitality and increase consciousness.

This is accomplished by challenging both mind and body with chanting, singing, meditation, and kriyas (specific series of poses paired with breath work and chanting). Typically, a kundalini class starts with a mantra (a focus for the class), then includes breathing exercises, warmups to get the body moving, increasingly more challenging poses, and a final relaxation and meditation, says Parker.

WHO MIGHT LIKE KUNDALINI YOGA: 

Anyone in search of a physical, yet also spiritual practice, or those who like singing or chanting.

POWER YOGA

Energy. Vitality. Truth.

Developed and founded by Beryl Bender Birch, Power Yoga is a fast moving sequence of postures designed to build strength, stamina and flexibility in your body.

Derived from the Ashtanga Yoga tradition, another powerful and physically demanding style of yoga, power yoga works with building heat in your body and moving quickly through vinyasa sequences.

Like vinyasa yoga, power yoga traces its roots to ashtanga but is less regimented and is more open to interpretation by individual teachers. Power yoga is generally more active and is done at a quicker pace than other styles of yoga.

WHO MIGHT LIKE POWER YOGA: 

Those who like ashtanga but want less rigidity, anyone who wants a good workout, and anyone who wants a less spiritual yoga practice.

PRENATAL YOGA

Breath. Flexibility. Centeredness.

Yoga can be a wonderful workout for moms-to-be. It often focuses on easing pains associated with pregnancy, such as sore hips or an aching low back. Prenatal yoga provides stress relief, exercise, and self-care in one session, and the breathing exercises can come in handy during labor and delivery.

According to Mayo Clinic, studies have suggested that practicing yoga during pregnancy can:

• Improve sleep
• Reduce stress and anxiety
• Increase the strength, flexibility and endurance of muscles needed for childbirth
• Decrease lower back pain, nausea, headaches and shortness of breath

Prenatal yoga can also help you meet and bond with other pregnant women and prepare for the stress of being a new parent.

WHO MIGHT LIKE PRENATAL YOGA: 

Moms-to-be and new moms who are easing back into exercise.

RESTORATIVE YOGA

Relax. Restore. Reboot.

Restorative yoga is a gentle, slow, still style of yoga that involves long, passive holds (5 minutes or longer) in a series of 4-6 restful poses. Yogis are often supported by props to enhance or deepen their experience and achieve a state of total relaxation and release. 

Restorative yoga classes are based on the teachings of B.K.S. Iyengar, a foremost yoga teacher who pioneered the use of props to support the body, enhance alignment and allow for the accessibility of yoga for everybody. 

Most restorative yoga classes include a combination of therapeutic elements like essential oils, touch assistance, guided meditation and soothing music. They are the perfect supplement to more active classes like hot yoga or vinyasa yoga and a great recovery tool for those overcoming illness or injury. 

Yogis of all levels will benefit from a rejuvenating restorative yoga class. It’s one of the best ways to counter a fast-paced, stressed-out life off the mat. Restorative yoga helps balance the mind and body, relieve tension and anxiety, improve the immune system, stretch deep fascia, increase flexibility and pave the way for meditation.

WHO MIGHT LIKE RESTORATIVE YOGA: 

Anyone who needs to de-stress, those dealing with pain, and someone who struggles to relax.

VINYASA YOGA

Flow. Float. Balance.

Adapted from the more regimented ashtanga practice, Vinyasa yoga is also called “flow yoga” or “vinyasa flow”. The word “vinyasa” translates to “place in a special way,” which is often interpreted as linking breath and movement. You’ll often see words like slow, dynamic, or mindful paired with vinyasa or flow to indicate the intensity of a practice.

Vinyasa yoga connects breath and movement – the poses “flow” from one to another in a fluid, almost dance-like manner on inhale or exhale. The flow can be meditative in nature, calming the mind and nervous system, even though you’re moving. There might be music, props (such as blocks, straps, or pillows), and burning incense depending on a teacher’s style – no two Vinyasa classes are the same.

The sequences are usually dynamic and physically challenging, and will surely incorporate “Sun Salutations”, “Warriors”, hip openers, back bends, and inversions, so be prepared to move loads, progress quickly, and sweat buckets in the process.

WHO MIGHT LIKE VINYASA YOGA: 

Anyone who wants more movement and less stillness from their yoga practice.

YIN YOGA

Stretch. Breathe. Reflect.

Yin classes are slow in pace – the students go through asanas in meditative silence, mindfully holding each posture for about 3 to 5 minutes. The traditional Yin class has very little movement and consists of a sequence of 18 to 24 floor postures that are designed to strengthen the pelvic floor, release the hips and lower-back tension, and stimulate particular meridians (subtle energy channels in the body).

Based on the Taoist concept of yin and yang – yang representing active movement that generate heat in the body, while yin the softer, more passive activities that heal the body – Yin yoga was designed to help practitioners go deeper than superficial muscular tissues and target the joints, ligaments, and bones through passive stretches and long posture holds.

The long-held, deeply restful postures of Yin Yoga provide a welcome contrast to the more dynamic, Yang dominated practices that are popular in the modern, Western world. A remedy to our fast-paced lifestyles, Yin is a practice that encourages people to slow down–immersing in the kind of stillness that can lead to the expansion of consciousness.

Tara Fitzgibbon, one of the most well known Yin Yoga teachers in Australia, agrees. “Yin yoga gives us permission to be still. It provides balance against all of life’s Yang activities, and allows us to reach deeper levels of rest, which open us up to higher consciousness.”

WHO MIGHT LIKE YIN YOGA: 

Those who need to stretch out after a tough workout, or anyone interested in a slower-paced practice. This style of yoga is perfect for active people looking to build flexibility, improve joint stability, and heal muscular tissues.

YOGA NIDRA

Relax. Awareness. Connection.

In Yoga Nidra: The Art of Transformational Sleep by Kamini Desai writes, “Yoga Nidra is not about doing more, it’s about doing less. Yoga Nidra is about releasing the struggling and striving to get somewhere. It’s the art and practice of doing nothing to arrive exactly where you want to be.”

To practice Yoga Nidra, you begin by lying on the floor (face up) in yoga corpse pose or Savasana. Then, based upon the guided meditation you’re following, you’re prompted to begin sensing the body and breathing in specific ways to incite a relaxation response in you. This relaxation response is the secret sauce to Yoga Nidra because it balances the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems – the left and right brain –allowing you to unwind into various, beneficial brain wave states.

Yoga Nidra, also known as dynamic sleep, prompts the body to relax deeply while the mind remains inwardly alert. One 30-minute practice of yoga Nidra equals approximately two hours of deep sleep.

In Yoga Nidra you enter a state of non-doing in which transformation happens from beyond the mind rather than through the mind. In this highly regenerative meditative state you can restore and rejuvenate your body, heal and recover from illness and re-wire your brain for greater mental and emotional balance and resiliency.

WHO MIGHT LIKE YOGA NIDRA:

Anyone looking for a relaxation practice that is intended to induce total physical, mental, and emotional relaxation. 

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When choosing a yoga style that is right for you think about and feel what your body and mind need on a given day.

When you’re trying to determine which of the different types of yoga is best for you, remember that there is no right or wrong one— just one that might not be right for you at this moment.

Another important consideration when choosing a yoga class that is right for you is the instructor. There are many different approaches to teaching yoga. Some yoga classes are more focuses on particular poses that are more or less helpful for you personally. Others might be focused on meditation entirely. It is important to consider what you are hoping to get out of your yoga session when choosing a class.

Understanding that your experience with one instructor is not necessarily reflective of your overall yoga practice is also important. Finding an instructor and style that is right for you is the best way to transition to a regular yoga regime. Remember to try many different types of yoga, different instructors and different skill levels to choose the yoga that is best for you.

Finding the yoga style that is right for you might make the difference between a lifelong beautiful practice or rolling up your yoga mat for good.

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The post The Most Popular Styles of Yoga Explained appeared first on Jill Conyers.

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