article - Strike a pose

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Sat nam,

Here's an interesting article comparing yoga styles. If you find a

" kundalini " article, please post it to " kundalini-yoga " .

 

Amar Atma

 

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Strike a pose

RUTH WALKER

 

GERI, Madge and Gwyneth do ashtanga. Ricky Martin practises basic

hatha. Courtney Love does kundalini and John Cleese does a laughter

version. So if you thought all there was to yoga was a few

downward-facing dogs, a glimpse at the local class timetable could be

enough to send you running back to the shop for a refund on that

pastel-coloured foam mat.

 

" It has become a bit of a circus, " says Bruce Mackay, of Edinburgh's

Union Yoga. " There's even Marvel Comics yoga, where you do the moves

that all the superheroes do. It's just bizarre. You name it, somebody

has come up with it. But, really, it all comes back to hatha yoga. All

the variations are just extensions of that, and the postures will be

more or less the same. At least, with so many options, you can try

different things and find what works for you. "

 

So, with all that cleared up, now you can decide which style is right

for you.

Kundalini

 

'Kundalini' means 'coiled up' in Sanskrit. The movements in this type

of yoga, and particularly the breathing, aim to awaken the coiled-up

power within us. " It's the energy most people would recognise in its

strongest form as sexual energy, " says Mackay.

 

" The problem in the West is that kundalini and tantric yoga are

associated with the Sting thing - how to have sex for 37 hours. It's

nothing to do with that. Kundalini is the ability to generate more of

that energy by taking it away from the sexual organs and moving it

around the rest of the body, to use it creatively. "

 

The results are increased sensitivity, better communication and more

compassion. It is also said to help those with obsessive personalities

or addictions. Perhaps that's why Courtney Love is a devotee.

 

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Ashtanga vinyasa

 

Originally designed for a warrior caste, this type of yoga features

set sequences of energetic moves. " It's a strong, dynamic practice, "

says Mackay. " It links postures together, almost like a dance - it's

like a cross between martial arts and yoga. "

 

Positions are not held for long - five breaths at the most. And since

you always do the same sequence, it's easy to practise at home. And if

you're prone to showing off, this could be the class for you. " You can

put in all sorts of fancy moves, " says Mackay, " and a lot of people

get caught up in competing with the guy at the next mat. "

 

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Bikram

 

Not for the faint-hearted, this style of yoga is performed in a studio

where the temperatures reach well over 38C. " You're roasting, " says

Mackay. " The theory is: the hotter you are the more supple you are.

And as you're sweating, you're detoxing the body. "

 

Bikram involves a set sequence, like ashtanga, and is tough going.

Those with high blood pressure or heart problems need not apply. So

far, though, the UK has only two centres that are licensed to teach

bikram yoga, and both are in London. Shame.

 

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Spiritual rating 2

Laughter yoga

 

Faking giggles in a roomful of strangers may not be everyone's idea of

a good time, but Jeya Jeyaratnam, a laughter yoga practitioner based

in Edinburgh, is convinced that it has benefits. " It works a lot of

muscles in the body, as well as the facial muscles. It's a great

cardiovascular workout, and it promotes circulation and releases

endorphins. " Its links with yogic teachings are tenuous, she admits.

" The breathing is the main thing because you bring your body back into

balance and energise it with fresh oxygen " .

 

Expect a class to include clapping to a rhythm and chanting " Ho, ho,

ha, ha, ha. " Jeyaratnam says, " While you're chanting, your stomach

moves in and out, as in some yoga exercises. And the clapping

stimulates the acupuncture points in your fingers. "

 

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Shadow yoga

 

With similarities to other disciplines, such as ayurvedic medicine,

martial arts and Indian dance, this is ideal for those with stiff

joints as it helps to build physical strength. " It is not as energetic

as ashtanga, but it has a similar flow and rhythm, " says Fiona Morton,

who teaches it in Glasgow. " We're working a lot with the energetic

body rather than using physical force, encouraging people to look at

the rhythm of the breath and co-ordinate it with body positions so

that movements are achieved with ease. "

 

A class features warm-ups, posture work, breath work and perhaps some

chanting.

 

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Iyengar

 

" Iyengar's focus is on healing the body through giving an individual

what they require on a one-to-one basis, " says Mackay. " It's not so

much about getting through lots of postures, it's about making sure

the body is correctly aligned in whatever you do. "

 

The use of props is common, so don't be surprised if you're presented

with various gadgets, belts and ropes - they're designed to help you

achieve the perfect position. This is the most widely practised form

of yoga in the world, and is particularly beneficial for anyone

recuperating from an injury.

 

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Spiritual rating 4

Anusara

 

The word means 'to go with the flow' or 'flowing from the heart'. And

if ashtanga attracts those with hefty egos, here you leave your

baggage at the door. " Like kundalini, this is about getting in touch

with your sensitive side and releasing some of the negative emotions

that are holding you back, " says Mackay.

 

It involves holding postures for a long time and lots of deep

breathing - it's more about meditation than physical exercise.

 

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Spiritual rating 4

 

• For further details, see www.unionyoga.co.uk,

www.laughternetwork.co.uk, www.yoga-edinburgh.com, www.fionamorton.net

 

This article: http://living.scotsman.com/health.cfm?id=1050352007

 

Last updated: 07-Jul-07 00:40 BST