yoga styles, part one

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ASHTANGA YOGA, VINYASA YOGA AND IYENGAR

YOGA.<br><br>Yoga is yoga, by whatever descriptors it is described.

The apparent polarisation between adherents of this

style or that method of yoga is an expression of that

very psychological fragmentation from which yoga is

designed to relieve us. At the same time, of course, there

is yoga and there is that which simulates yoga but

in fact is not the real thing. The difference is not

one that rests upon the techniques so much as upon

the effects. How these effects come about is also not

totally dependent upon technique but more fundamentally

upon the orientation and attitude within which the

techniques are employed. <br><br>Ashtanga Yoga is being

practiced whenever the eight limbs of yoga presented in

Patanjali's Yoga Sutras provide the context and the guiding

light of sadhana. The techniques utilised in Iyengar

Yoga and Vinyasa Yoga can be practiced outside of this

context. Likewise the teachings of Goraksha, Gheranda and

Svatmarama cannot be defined as falling within this

category. Ashtanga Yoga, therefore is not the be all and

end all of yoga. No single approach can be. That is

exactly why there are so many. Of course passionate

adherents of any particular school or method will be

convinced that theirs is complete in itself. But if they

have not sampled other schools and methods to a

similar depth they are not in a position to make this

judgement. They are of course entitled to say that it is

enough for them, and make a commitment to that method

without exploring others.