What Yoga Style is Best For You Now?
In honour of the stunning summer heat here in Ibiza we continue our exploration of the heated yoga traditions, exploring the next direct descendant of Ashtanga, Power Yoga.
Power Yoga:
Power yoga is a style developed Beryl Bender Birch and Bryan Kest. There is another stream of this style founded by Baron Baptiste. Power Yoga's similarities to Ashtanga are a heated room, and a powerful practice. The difference is there is no set sequence and the emphasis is almost exclusively on asana as opposed to the other limbs of yoga.
What distinguishes Power Yoga from Vinyasa Flow is the spirituality aspect. Vinyasa Flow often references the divine. Power yoga is often, like Hot yoga, an entry level, or first contact with yoga, as the de-emphasis on ‘spirituality', emphasis on standing poses and fitness level demanded by the practice makes it accessible to people who are interested in yoga for fitness but not the metaphysical trappings of the practice.
Philosophy notwithstanding there is always a yogic component of non-harming to oneself, non-competitiveness, maintaining a steady mind and working towards an easeful practice. Bryan Kest is giving a workshop in Ibiza this summer.
Jivamukti Yoga:
If you would like your yoga to be a discipline that feels more like a way of life, then Jivamukti yoga is for you. Jivamukti is aligned with a Bhakti Yoga tradition, or more devotional style. While not technically a hot style the practice may be in a warm room.
All Jivamukti classes are practiced to music, compromise elements of philosophy, and have a monthly social activism element penned by Sharon Gannon, one of the two founders. There is often a fragrant Chinese Balm spread over the student's shoulders in the first few Down Dogs to loosen the neck muscles.
The style is known for being physically challenging and deeply inspirational. The teachers talk a lot through the class, not giving so many alignment cues but connecting the challenges of an asana practice to life's challenges and delivering social messages.
Jivamukti aficionados love the emphasis on lifestyle, the spiritual, and music as well as the almost always, strong physical practice. There is a set sequence called “The Spiritual Warrior' but in general Jivamukti teachers direct the sequence.
Hatha Yoga:
Is a broad, sweeping term that comprises many non-similar styles. For the benefit of this article we will call a variety of the non-heated styles Hatha yoga. There are a few main schools of Hatha. Several streams comes from Swami Sivananda including Kundalini yoga and The Bihar School of Yoga. Kundalini Yoga is a non-hindu style developed by Yogi Bhajan, a Sikh, who emphasizes Pranayama as the means to awakening ‘Kundalini', or dormant energy in practitioners. Actually considered Laya Yoga.
As well, there are the myriad Indian gurus who teach Hatha yoga, especially around Rishikesh. These styles emphasize the 6 Limbs of Hatha Yoga or the 8 Limbs of Ashtanga: Yamas and Niyamas (ethics), asana (physical exercise), pranayama (breath control), pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses), dhyana (concentration), dharana (meditation) and Samadhi (stages of enlightened states of Being).
Hatha yoga builds the practice much more slowly, as opposed to the more martial styles of Hot Yoga's. Often, in between poses, there may be a short lying down (Svanasana) instead of a linking of the poses with a Sun-Salutation or vinyasa, as it is called. Hatha is much slower in movement but can still be an incredibly challenging practice towards the more advanced levels, as breath retention becomes an important part of the practice.
Hatha is suited for all ages and can be slow and gentle or vigorous. The more measured, meditative pace of Hatha also makes it an entry-level practice. People appreciate that there is time to learn and feel the poses. Hatha appeals to people who are seeking to get fit, or are intimidated by the competitive or martial nature of gyms and most sports.
Please contact the Ibiza Spotlight team if you would like to book a personal instructor during your visit to the island of Ibiza.
Maili Dinim is a Yoga Instructor and Natural Food Chef. She can be contacted via MailiDinim.com
