Integral: Integral classes involve lots of meditation and chanting.
However, integral yoga is one of the easier forms to learn because the
postures are relatively simple with plenty of modifications offered for
the flexibility-challenged.
Iyengar: Iyengar yoga instructors must complete a rigorous two- to five-
year training program for certification, so the quality of teaching tends to
be consistently good. Iyengar yoga involves props such as foam blocks
and stretching belts. Instructors pay close attention to body alignment.Kripalu: Kripalu, a less physical and more meditative style of yoga,
emphasizes body alignment and breath and movement coordination.
There are three stages in kripalu yoga. Stage One focuses on learning the
postures and exploring your body’s limits of strength and flexibility.
Stage Two involves holding the postures for an extended time, develop-
ing concentration and inner awareness. Stage Three involves moving
from one posture to another without rest.
Kundalini: Kundalini yoga was one of the first “Westernized” forms of
yoga. Because it’s designed to release energy in the body, it involves a
lot of intense breathing exercises. Most of the poses are classic flexibil-
ity exercises.Sivananda:This classic style of yoga is one of the most widely followed
in the world and follows well-known poses, with an emphasis on relax-
ation and breathing.Taking Yoga Classes ....................................................................................
Most health clubs offer yoga classes at no additional charge. You can find a
wider variety of styles and techniques at yoga-only studios, which charge $8 to
$25 per class. You’ll likely also find classes aimed at different experience levels.If you’re a yoga novice, make sure that you take a beginning class, and don’t
try to keep up with anyone else. Yoga can be extremely demanding, both in
terms of flexibility and strength. Even if you can bench-press a heavy load in
the gym, you may find yourself lacking the strength to hold a yoga pose for a
minute. Yoga requires a different type of strength than weight lifting does. For
instance, many yoga poses require you to call upon the strength of your
abdominals, lower back, and dozens of small spinal muscles that don’t get
much action in a weight-machine workout.There’s no national yoga certification, so we can’t list certain credentials to
look for in a teacher. In the yoga world, it usually means a lot if you’ve stud-
ied with a certain yogi master, but most people have trouble evaluating this
type of credential. Rely on your own judgment and word-of-mouth recommen-
dations. A good yoga instructor wanders around the room correcting class
members’ techniques and offering variations that allow less-flexible people to
accomplish all the poses.Chapter 16: All about Yoga: Mind and Body 251