religions can realize their greatest potential.
Kundalini combines asanas, pranayama, and
other techniques to strengthen and focus the
prana, a subsidiary power of Kundalini. Siddha
yoga is a popular variation of Kundalini that
relies on a guru to awaken the Kundalini
through mantra, meditation, chanting, and
seva, or selfless service.- Laya yoga: Laya yoga is a form of meditation
focusing on the energy centers located in the
spine and head, which are regarded as doorways
to higher consciousness. Laya yoga is geared
toward overcoming selfishness and self-cen-
teredness and developing the ability to cope with
any fear or issue that blocks “heart expansion.” - Mantra yoga: Mantra, from the Sanskrit word
manas, or mind, focuses on the meditative word
or prayer repeated for a length of time.
Although the most common mantra is Om, or
Aum, the vibration of God, from which all
other mantras are derived, one may choose
from many mantras or obtain an individual
mantra from a guru. The repetition of the word
Japa, meaning “in the name of God,” may be
used as a mantra. Other common mantras are
Om Namo Sivaya (to call upon the energy of
Siva) and Om Nama Narayanaya (which calls
upon the god Vishnu). Bija-mantras are used to
address the seven charkas, or energy zones of
the body. The major ones are Lam, Vam, Ram,
Yam, Ham, Ksam, Bam (or Om). - Office yoga: Office yoga practice is also called
Desktop yoga because the stretches do not
require moving away from a chair or desk.
Incorporating ergonomics and working condi-
tions that promote the well-being of office
workers, office yoga offers stress relief from the
daily business world routine and confinement
to the office. - Phoenix Rising yoga: Based at the Phoenix Ris-
ing Center in West Stockbridge, Massachusetts,
Phoenix Rising yoga blends classical techniques
with contemporary mind-body psychology in
order to allow the release of physical and emo-
tional tension. A Phoenix Rising session is a
one-on-one, one-and-a-half-hour experience
of assisted yoga postures, nondirective dia-
logue, and guided breathing. Much physical
and emotional healing can be accomplished by
this form of yoga for individuals who prefer pri-
vacy and personal attention.- PowerBreathing: PowerBreathing is a deep,
slow breathing technique developed by the
yoga teacher Yonah Offner. The goal is to allow
the diaphragm to work properly by unblocking
the three lower chakras. More information on
PowerBreathing is available on Offner’s web-
site, http://www.powerbreathing.com. - Power yoga: Power yoga is the Western form of
Ashtanga yoga developed by Beryl Bender
Birch, author of Power Yogaand Beyond Power
Yoga (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2000). A
student of classical yoga since 1971 and gradu-
ate of Syracuse University, Birch addresses the
positive mind-body therapeutic effects of yoga,
to which she has added more challenging pos-
tures and a unique breathing technique called
ujjayithat extend the Ashtanga yoga method.
The initial goal of the practice is to create heat
and energy flow in the body, to flush out men-
tal and physical toxins and to stretch and
strengthen muscles. As in all authentic yoga
systems, the ultimate spiritual goal is the real-
ization of the Self or the recognition of the true
Self as divine consciousness. - Sivananda yoga: Sivananda yoga is a method
geared toward balancing the intellect, heart,
body, and mind that includes proper exercise
(asanas), proper breathing (pranayama), proper
relaxation (savasana), proper diet (vegetarian),
positive thinking (vedanta), and meditation
(dhyana). Introduced to the United States of
America in 1957 by Swami Vishnu-devananda,
founder of the International Sivananda Yoga
Vedanta Centers, Sivananda yoga is based on
the teachings of Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh,
India, who taught students to “serve, love, give,
purify, meditate, and realize.” - Svaroopa yoga: Svaroopa yoga is a method that
includes gentle poses directed toward “core
opening,” or unraveling tensions all along the
spine, developed by Rama Berch, who founded
and directs the Master Yoga Foundation in La
Jolla, California, and who has also directed the
yoga program for Dr. Deepak Chopra’s Center
for Well-Being. Berch discovered that many of
170 yoga