BASICSAshtanga Yoga
Not to be confused with Patanjali’s eight-limbed path to
yoga, Ashtanga Yoga is a system of yoga created by Sri K.
Pattabhi Jois. It is known to be one of the most physically
challenging versions of yoga. These series are to be prac-
ticed six days a week, except for moon days—days of the new
and full moon—during which the practitioner will rest. The
Ashtanga style is usually a self-practice. It is done under the
Mysore style, which requires a teacher to assist the student
into poses. Students discover when they are ready to move
on to the next series, much like achieving different belts in
karate. Ashtanga consists of six series, and very few people
have made it to the final one.
Kundalini Yoga
Kundalini was brought to the United States in 1968 by Yogi
Bhajan. It’s called the yoga of awareness and is considered
the most spiritual practice that exists today. Kundalini refers
to the energy that lies dormant at the base of the spine. Prac-
ticing meditation, breath work, mantra, dance, and asana
raises this energy up the spine and out through the chakras.
(A mantra is a chant that supports meditation. A chakra is a
point of energy in the human body.) The goal of Kundalini is
to create a sense of well-being and heightened awareness.
Hatha Yoga
Hatha is the most widely practiced form of yoga, combin-
ing movement with conscious breathing. This system was
developed by Yogi Swatmarama to develop strength and flex-
ibility using a set of physical postures. These poses are meant
to align the skin, muscles, and bones of the body.