Originating in India, the term yoga means “union” in Sanskrit refers to the practice of physical postures and pose. It is described as the union taking place among the mind, body, and spirit. According to a study from Yoga Journal, “almost 16 million people are practicing yoga and interest is rapidly increasing.” Yoga has evolved to consist of a number of different styles, each with its own benefits. Although all of the styles are based on the same poses, each has a specific emphasis.

The following is a list of the most popular styles of Yoga:

HATHA: Hatha is a style of yoga that involves very slow movement. This yoga type is often taken by yoga newcomers. It consists of a number of physical types of yoga.

ASHTANGA: Ashtanga means “eight limbs” in Sanskrit. It is a quick-paced and physically challenging style of yoga. A specific order of poses is performed. Partakers in this yoga practice will quickly jump from one posture to another. One will improve stamina, flexibility, and strength.

VINYASA: In this style of yoga, a more energetic series of poses called Sun Salutations are performed. Movement is matched with breathing. That is, it is breath synchronized movement.

IYENGAR: This style of practice focuses on body alignment. In other words, it is performed in an exact way in which the body is positioned in each pose for the most beneficial exercise outcome. One will hold certain poses for a specified period of time.

KUNDALINI: The focus of this type of yoga is on the breath along with physical movement. The idea is to release energy in the lower part of the body so it can move up through the rest of the body. Kundalini uses quick, repetitive movements instead of poses. There is chanting involved in this yoga style.

BIKRAM/HOT YOGA: This style of yoga is practiced in a 90 to 100 degree room. The purpose is to loosen firm muscles and cause an abundance of perspiration. It is believed it cleanses the body. This style makes use of a series of 26 poses.

ANUSARA: This yoga style emphasizes physical alignment with Tanta philosophy. Tanta is the belief in the inherent goodness of all beings. Poses are taught in a way that mentally and physically opens the heart. Props are often used in this style of yoga.

JIVAMUKTI: This style of yoga emphasizes spiritual teachings, meditation, and chanting. The exercises are physically challenging.

FORREST: This style works to cleanse the body of impurities as well as strengthen the body. As well, it is designed to release pain and contained emotions so that one will begin to heal. This style of yoga is intense and there is a focus on deep breathing and firming abdominal muscles.

SIVANANDA: Sivananda yoga is based on the following five principles: Positive Thinking and Meditation, Proper Exercise, Proper Diet, Proper Breathing, and Proper Relaxation.

KRIPALU: Kripalu is a yoga practice with an empathetic style and focuses on spiritual transformation, meditation, and physical healing. It also focuses on moving at one’s own pace and gazing internally into one’s self.

INTEGRAL: Integral is a yoga style that includes meditation, chanting, breathing exercises, and kriyas. It is a tender Hatha practice.

Yoga is an ancient practice that focuses on one’s physical, mental, and spiritual well being. It is an effective method to achieving optimum health.

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The best hatha yoga tip I ever received, was from a yoga master who understood the inner workings of life, karma and reincarnation. Employing this tip is essential if you are going to extract the full benefits of a yoga practice. Without this piece of wisdom, hatha yoga becomes just a series of physical movements and exercises. The tip is that all yoga should be practiced with the Witnessing Consciousness active.

This is really more than just the best yoga tip, this is an essential yoga guideline. Yoga means, to join or yolk, and the joining that is being referred to, is the merging of your consciousness with the Universal Consciousness. This is the true purpose of yoga. To bring you to the doorstep of Infinity, so that you can realize the true Oneness of Reality.

Yoga includes many dimensions, and of these hatha yoga is just one. This dimension is considered the physical aspect of yoga practice, but if done while employing the Witnessing Consciousness, this physical practice becomes spiritual and much more. So what exactly is meant by this tip? Let’s discuss the details of that below.

The Witnessing Consciousness is the act of simply standing apart and watching that which is taking place. In other words, to have a third person perspective of what is happening in your life, within and without, and using this observation as a source for self study. This observation is pure simple awareness. It should be without judgment or criticism, and it should be maintained as best you can from moment to moment. Another way of describing this state is that it is the act of being in the world, but not being of the world.

So, as you practice your hatha yoga poses and routines, keep this awareness active. Do your yoga and watch yourself doing it like you are watching a movie. Stay alert to the three dimensions of your being. The physical, emotional and mental. This detached, passive awareness will allow the content of consciousness to come out, reveal itself and be purged. That cleansing will then allow you to have space and silence within, which are the necessary ingredients for Truth to blossom.

This important tip though extends far beyond your hatha yoga practice as well. Not only during your physical practice should you practice this watching, but you should continue at all other times as well. No one is really able to successfully be conscious throughout all twenty-four hours of the day, but the amount of time you can stay aware is perhaps the best way to measure your spiritual progress.

The person who can maintain their awareness ninety percent of the time is going to be much more spiritually advanced than one who is only aware only five percent of the time. In fact, this metric is probably the best measure of the spiritual level of a person. Putting this tip to use, will certainly change your life. You will have to make adjustments in order to practice such vigilance and the more you practice it, the more positive changes you will notice start happening.

A great time to practice this tip is, of course, while doing hatha yoga poses. This is because hatha yoga can be done without excessive mental activity. This then leaves awareness available for the task of self observation. Of course, there are hatha yoga exercises that suggest bringing the mind and attention to various regions in the body, as you do the pose, but if you can, try to maintain some free energy and awareness for self observation. In fact, I would say that maintaining the Witnessing Consciousness is more important, than the mental requirements of a particular pose.

Finally, this tip is not limited to just hatha yoga either. Regardless of which yoga style you are doing, Kripalu, Hot, Power, Kundalini, Vinyasa or other yoga style, the most important aspect of your practice is to do it with full awareness. This is the key to finding the Truth, for as you will discover, the Witnessing Consciousness is really your True Self after all.

Anmol Mehta is a Yoga & Zen Meditation expert. For Free Online Yoga & Guided Meditation Classes visit http://www.anmolmehta.com/blog/classes-online hosted on http://www.anmolmehta.com. For help & insights on Meditation, Kundalini Yoga, Chakra, Tantra, Zen & more visit http://www.anmolmehta.com/blog.

Yoga seems to be the buzzword on everyone’s lips these days when it comes to working out and getting fit. That is not a bad thing in itself, because yoga offers significant advantages over other forms of exercise. However, there are some things that you should know before you enroll for that yoga class.

1.Not all yoga is the same. There are many different styles and schools of yoga, ranging from fast paced and energetic forms of yoga such as Bikram Yoga and Power Yoga, and slower paced forms of yoga such as Ananda Yoga. Different schools of yoga focus on achieving different goals and it is important to identify what your fitness goals are before joining a particular class. For example, if you’re looking for some gentle stretching exercises to keep fit in your old age, then for sure Bikram yoga is not your cup of tea.

2.Consult a doctor before you join. Yoga is a very powerful form of exercise and in addition to its potential for good, it also has the potential to cause great harm if done incorrectly. It is best to get a thorough physical checkup before you join a yoga class. Also be sure to tell your yoga instructor about any pre-existing medical conditions so that he/she can adapt the yoga exercises to suit your specific needs.

3.Look for one-on-one interaction. Yoga students, especially beginners, require special attention and proper instructions. So if you see a class strength of fifty and one yoga instructor, maybe it’s time to look for another yoga class.

4.Ensure that your instructors are properly certified. Al though there is no single certifying body for yoga instructors, most instructors will have trained under some specific school of yoga and will have a certificate that says so.

5.Get proper clothes. You cannot perform yoga in tight jeans. A loose t-shirt and a pair of track pants or loose slacks are ideal.

6.Do not stuff your face with food before a yoga class. Yoga involves a lot of core abdominal work and is best performed on an empty stomach.

7.Do not go into a yoga class expecting to develop six-pack abs or sixteen inch biceps. Yoga is not body sculpting. Instead it is a complete holistic approach to fitness and has nothing to do with the size of your abdomen or the state of your abs. The good news is that yoga can really help your lose that flab on your belly.

8.Be prepared to switch off your cellphone and IPod when you enter a yoga class. Yoga is all about reconnecting with your inner self and this is best done without external distractions.

9.Even though yoga may not seem as strenuous as other forms of exercise, be prepared for some slight aches and pains after the first few yoga sessions. This is normal and nothing to panic about. The stretching movements in yoga will exercise parts of your body that you didn’t know existed.

10.Keep an open mind. Yoga was developed in a culture that is very different to present Western culture. Some of the concepts and techniques may seem a bit strange at first, but as you continue to practice yoga, you will understand their significance.

Kevin Pederson, authors web content for http://www.yogawiz.com a complete online resource featuring yoga poses, breathing and cleansing. This article offers prerequisites and some obvious checks before you join any yoga class.

The benefits of yoga are well known. Yoga is not only beneficial for losing weight and toning the body, but has an overall impact on your health. Yoga can help you enhance your spirituality by establishing a balance between the physical, mental, and spiritual energies.

Yoga is also an ideal fitness routine for anyone who is looking to lose weight. It is a gentle exercise and the motions involved in the practice of yoga are slow, deliberate, and fluid. However, recently, the practice of yoga for weight loss has gained popularity. The traditional form of yoga has been worked upon and adapted into modern styles which are more suitable to the modern practitioner and the environment around us.

Hot yoga has been the most recent variation of yoga. This variation has been made especially for those who want to lose weight. Hot yoga is a practice that takes place in a heated room. The intensity of the heat, when coupled with the fluid motions of the yoga routine helps burn more calories in the same amount of time.

The poses and postures of hot yoga are very much like the traditional yoga. The only specialty of hot yoga is that it is performed in an intensely hot room which is heated up to 90 degree Fahrenheit. A lot of people tend to confuse hot yoga with Bikram yoga. Though Bikram Choudhary has invented the concept of hot yoga, it is not the same as Bikram yoga. While Bikram yoga has a specific copyrighted sequence of yoga poses and postures, hot yoga can be performed in any manner. The routines of hot yoga depend a lot on the studio where it is being practiced.
It is believed that the benefits of yoga can be enhanced when it is practiced in a high temperature. As the temperature rises, the practice of yoga becomes more intense, allowing the body to burn more calories. The heat also allows the blood vessels and the muscles to expand and relax. The poses and postures to be practiced in hot yoga are specifically chosen. The poses which help stretch and stimulate the muscles are preferred over light and relaxing exercises of yoga.

Based on the temperature created in the studio and the type of exercises chosen for the routine, the results may differ from studio to studio. However, if the temperature is more, the body sweats more and more calories are burnt.

This article can guide you on the working principles behind Yoga. The http://www.yogawiz.com site imparts philosophical knowledge to understand the different aspects of Yoga.

Let’s look at some ways to group techniques, within a Yoga class, and keep them interesting for each session. Please keep in mind that there are thousands of ways to design lesson plans. The only time a lesson plan is wrong is if it can potentially hurt a student.

Centering: This is a time for students to bring their full awareness into the classroom. If I were to compare Yoga to any other discipline, this is similar to the ceremonial bow at the beginning of a martial arts class. Some teachers go into a brief meditation, at this point, while other teachers may focus on seated or standing breath awareness. The point being – there are many ways to approach this, but time should be taken for the centering, because Yoga is not an “exercise” class.

Warm-ups: This might consists of circular movements, which are commonly seen in Kundalini Yoga and some Hatha classes. The slow circular movements create a flow of energy within your core. At the same time, they warm up your joints, create flexibility within the muscles, and massage your vital organs. Some styles practice Sun Salutations (Surya Namaskar) instead of the circular warm-ups. This is completely acceptable, as long as the initial flows are performed slowly and gradually increase in speed. By gradually increasing the speed, we want to keep in mind that this is warm-up time and time spent preparing to avoid injury.

Pranayama: There seems to be a debate on when to perform pranayama during class time. We should be practicing pranayama throughout the class, even when we are practicing other techniques. For example – if your students were practicing Sun Salutations, they should have also been practicing Ujjayi breath at the same time.

Some teachers guide students through pranayama at the beginning, middle, or end of the class – as a separate segment. Personally, I see nothing wrong with this. In my classes, pranayama is usually taught as integration throughout the lesson plan. For example – you could open, or close, a class with Udgeeth pranayama while teaching other Yogic breathing techniques throughout the class.

Asanas: There are many ways to approach asanas. Some teachers start from a seated position, going to Table, and then standing, and so on.

Here is a contemporary template for grouping asanas in a typical Hatha class:

Standing Poses

Balancing Poses

Seated Poses

Kneeling Poses

Table Poses

Prone Poses

Supine Poses

This is just a sample guideline. There are many ways to approach asana sequencing. If this were a private session, for a student with a neurological disorder, the entire lesson plan would have to be customized to meet the needs of that student.

The above-mentioned lesson plan did not take into account teachers who organize Vinyasa classes, which continuously flow through all of these groups of asanas, within their flow sequences.

Meditation: This is a special time, during classes, that can be performed at the beginning, end, or at the beginning and the end of a class. In other words, there is no “bad” time for meditation. If you survey your students, and they answer you honestly, you will find that most of them do not make time for meditation during the week.

Relaxation: I have never met a teacher, who ran two relaxation segments, in a single class; however, it seems that some teachers perform guided relaxations at the beginning of class. Most often, guided relaxations are performed at the end of class, or just before the last meditation session, which is near the end of the class.

There are a variety of relaxation methods. The classic method seems to be stage-by-stage relaxation, but body scanning has also become very popular, and it does not take as much time. This may be important if you are trying to schedule time. There is also the relaxation-through-visualization method – where the teacher guides the student through a mental exercise, with the focus being on one thought, or object, at a time, in that sequence.

With all that said – relaxation-through-visualization existed in Yantra Yoga for centuries before some of the popular methods of this time. If you want to research Yantra Yoga, it would be wise to seek out a competent Guru, who is familiar with the many methods of that discipline.

In summary, Hatha Yoga is much like music, in that careful creativity can be a good thing. It is a matter of preference, as to whether the teacher or student likes a particular sequence. This does not make it right or wrong, but any methods taught from other branches of Yoga, should be carefully studied under the guidance of a competent Yoga teacher from within that style.

Copyright 2009 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center in, Attleboro, MA. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

How do you find an ideal Yoga teaching position? When should you teach for free? Is it worth the time to construct a resume for a Yoga teacher position? Let’s review these issues and find solutions.

How do you find an ideal Yoga teaching position? Firstly, you should have a clear vision of what you consider to be “ideal.” This viewpoint will not be shared by every teacher in your area. There are so many different classes and facilities to teach in, that none of us really wants the same thing.

For example: there are people who specialize in teaching on cruise ships, in retirement communities, or at corporate fitness centers. In each case, that particular Yoga teacher has pursued a specific direction because the atmosphere made him or her happy to teach classes.

When should you teach Yoga for free? You may want to teach a group in need. A homeless shelter is one example of a place where you might teach as a form of selfless service (Karma Yoga). Sometimes, a fitness facility has a position and asks Yoga instructors to do a “free demo” class.

This may raise some internal conflicts. You are worth being paid for your time and you feel like the prospective facility is taking advantage of you. You might ask yourself, “Why am I teaching for free?” If your intuition tells you the facility has a habit of taking advantage of teachers, you might be better off to refuse it.

On the other hand, one free demo class may land you a teaching position. In some facilities, it takes a while to be one of the top three Yoga teachers on the substitute list. Teaching one free Yoga class may open many doors in the future.

Is it worth the time to construct a resume for a Yoga teacher position? This depends on where you plan to send the resume. In general, a resume is not a great lead into a Yoga studio for a teaching position. Why?

Usually teachers are hired from within the studio’s student ranks. If you want to teach in a specific studio, you would be better to approach them from within, unless the management has posted a notice that they are seeking instructors.

With all that said, it still looks professional to have a prepared resume, if or when, it is requested. Additionally, if you were to approach colleges, hospitals, retirement communities, or corporate fitness centers, you definitely should have a resume prepared.

Copyright 2009 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center in, Attleboro, MA. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html