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May, 2015

Which Type of Yoga is For You?

Which Type of Yoga is For You?

06 Jul 2015
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Green Stone Journeys

MAY, 2015 – Which Type of Yoga is For You?

yoga types_blog

There are many types of yoga to choose from these days. If you are looking for a good work out, to relax or just find a new way of connecting with ourselves in our free time, the benefits of doing yoga are endless. The reasons why you may be practicing or seeking a yoga class may vary, but we all know one thing is for sure, that yoga makes us feel good.

Whether it is to reduce stress, increase our focus, lose weight, stretch and strengthen or meet new people, the physical benefits are many that it makes it difficult to list them all in one blog post! We know that with increased flexibility, balance and muscle tone and the sensation of feeling relaxed after laying down on the mat at the end of the class makes us almost always feel great, and for many, a feeling that we want to come back for more.

IMG_8674_2_menorYoga can be for everyone! If you are interested in a workout to tune into your own body’s rhythms, with a focus to understand and accept your limits as one of the biggest challenges, there are various styles to choose from.

Choosing the right class and teacher is important to make sure you get out of the class what you are looking for. Although, you may be surprised that what you are looking for also changes as you adapt and stretch to new ideas. That is what yoga seems to do, open us up to new possibilities and connecting to ourselves and others with ways that we may never have imagined.

With the many styles and classes to choose from, we thought we would outline a few here but we recommend trying all of them and going with what feels best! Here’s a short, but sweet breakdown, so you can decide which one is best for YOU.

Ashtanga

What: Ashtanga is a style of yoga based on ancient teachings and brought to the West by Pattabhi Jois. It uses the same sequence of postures connected to the breath with each movement. It incorporates fast-paced cardio with strength training that is vigorous and a physically demanding practice.
Who: Ideal for people who like sticking to a routine and for those who want a more intensive yoga class.

Iyengar

What: Iyengar yoga was established in the West in the 1970s by B.K.S. Iyengar, who focused on postures with attention to proper alignment. Iyengar yoga often uses props such as blankets, blocks and ropes and while you might not get your heart rate way up in this type of class, it is a good choice for those seeking to stay put in balance and concentration or heal certain ailments and physical injuries in the body.
Who: Anyone with an injury or chronic condition will benefit from this yoga, which is often recommended as healing therapy.

11350414_825750297503510_3206489063577962832_nHatha

What: Hatha Yoga refers to classes based on the traditional set of yoga poses and may include meditation between poses as well as longer relaxation at the start and end of a class. A series of sun salutations and inversions may get the heart rate going, but it is a subtle difference in activity compared to other active yoga styles. Hatha yoga is based on several lineages from India and emphasizes internal presence and awareness in each movement.
Who: Hatha yoga is good for those seeking to connect to their bodies through gentle stretching and meditaiton between poses or looking for a more introspective and gentle, yet intense workout in a class.

Vinyasa

What: Vinyasa Yoga is characterized by fluid movements and frequent switching between different poses, which raises the heart rate. Vinyasa comes from the Sanskrit word “flow” and uses different movements in a sequence with smooth transitions between postures.
Who: Good for those who like to change it up, since Vinyasa teachers tend to mix up the routine for each class and may have music as a background.

Restorative

What: Restorative yoga uses a blend of props and passive poses to create postures without having to exert any effort. If you are seeking to connect with yourself and have a relaxing yoga experience to calm the nerves and relax in postures, it has been said that a good restorative class is more rejuvenating than a nap as you open and stretch the body and energy centers without force or much movement.
Who: For those looking to enjoy a class and not feel they will need a big workout. It’s great for anyone looking for relaxation and to calm any stress or anxiety, in fact, just about anyone could use a little profound rest!

joao - acroyogaAcroyoga
What: Acroyoga evolved as a playful form of yoga combining acrobatics with two people balancing, grounding and soaring as a partnership during the practice involving yoga asanas. It emphasizes trust and movement that may appear as a dance and choreography for those advanced practitioners.
Who: For those seeking to have fun and engage with others in a yoga practice and engage in a shared physical and emotional practice to work on trust and communication with others.

We recommend you research more about the styles of yoga that are available to you. The discipline of yoga is a great exercise and way to tune into the body and undeniably, a profound and exact science of the ages whose effects can surely be felt with patience and discipline.

We hope you find a yoga that is right for you and work gently with the postures and your body. The greatest teacher you have is you, so listen carefully to what your body says in each pose and never go beyond your limit. Practice yoga with caution and choose your teachers carefully.

Our favourite is to blend Hatha, Vinyasa and Iyengar in the classes with our variety of teachers and adjust the classes to all levels. We encourage classes for beginners but can bring options into the classes for more advanced practitioners. Our teachers tune themselves into the individual needs of the group and work with a dynamic that benefits everyone.

You’d be surprised at the harmonious energy that comes together in a group that is open and willing to learn. It’s important to realize that it’s not the level and number of years of practice that makes for a great yoga class, but individual intention with a focus on blending comfortable exertion with peaceful relaxation in each of the poses that together creates a wonderful fusion of energetic bliss and calm surrender that makes for a pretty amazing yoga class.

Yoga Teachers photo credit: Luciana Camargo, Dani Zimetbaum, Joâo Paulo Pereira

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fabiana "I had great time on the tour, all was very professional and organized and the location and meals were amazing. The yoga teacher was the best I ever had and the whole team was incredible and I enjoyed every minute. It was perfect in all aspects and above my expectations, for sure an unforgettable experience."
Fabiana Poli, Italy August 2015
15394_10153090853741291_4377406819819870133_n 2 The yoga teacher was great – she quickly gaged our levels of experience and went at the perfect pace to ensure we felt comfortable. She was friendly, approachable and very calming with her instructions. The beach house was lovely. Spacious, clean, well kept and presented. The cook was brilliant and the quality and quantity of food was first class and we definitely never went hungry! The group of people on the tour really made it special for me. It was so nice to go away as a solo traveller and come away feeling like you had made a whole new group of friends! I will never forget the beauty of the island – the sounds, sights and how it made me feel emotionally. I was able to forget about everything back home and just ‘be!’ The whole experience was brilliant – it really was a journey of discovery!
Eleaner Risdale, Scotland March 2015
10612679_10153196536509358_7755434750267590017_n The personal touch was the most enjoyable aspect of the tour. I felt a thousand times more relaxed and whole after a week. The change was really noticeable and the feeling of being looked after really set me up to have space to nurture myself, which I find hard to come by in daily life.
Brittany Jack, Scotland Sept 2014
1524823_10201236367368117_741238960_n As a custom tour experience with GSJ the programs were adjusted for my preference and for weather, and it felt like I had someone to help me personally organize the things I wanted to do and accompany me along the way. The most I enjoyed about my experience were the yoga sessions. All of the instructors were fantastic and have inspired me to reignite my practice long term. I can't say enough about how amazing the sessions were. The local guide was also very knowledgeable and friendly and locations were beautiful with great breakfasts. The optional massages were also fantastic, it seems GSJ knows how to find all the best people! I would recommend GSJ tours and travel with them again.
Katie Weber, USA April 2014
PjhdL5agodZnvz5zxqUBzUGdwn7Q43axpWco_ZHjASILoved, loved, loved this tour! the perfect combination of fun and adventure with amazing yoga, delicious food and gorgeous location. I didn’t want to come home! This tour is perfect if you live in Brazil and want an escape from the city or if you are coming to Brazil for the first time. It’s an amazing way to see beautiful places and travel with people who have the same ideas about travel.
Fiona Reidy, Ireland April 2013
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