It might seem like a modern trend, but yoga has its roots dating back 3,000 years ago in India. The word yoga is Sanskrit for "yoke," join, or unite, the mind, body, and spirit.

Yoga includes physical exercise, but it's also about life balance. Training your mind, body, and breath — as well as connecting with your spirituality — are the main goals of the yoga lifestyle.

The physical part of the yoga lifestyle is called hatha yoga. Hatha yoga includes asanas, or poses. Hatha yoga also refers to a style of yoga that is slower paced and focuses on alignment and breath.

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There are many types of yoga. If you are new or want to explore varying styles, you might want to try a different class and come out of your comfort zone. 

• Ashtanga yoga: This is a vigorous, fast-paced form of yoga. When doing Ashtanga yoga, a person moves quickly through a set of predetermined poses while remaining focused on breathing.

• Gentle yoga: Gentle yoga focuses on slow stretches, flexibility, and breathing.

• Hot yoga: This is any type of yoga practiced in a hot room. Bikram yoga is a specific kind of hot yoga the includes a series of 26 poses practiced in rooms that are heated to 105°F (40°C).

• Kundalini yoga: Kundalini yoga uses different poses, breathing techniques, chanting, and meditation to awaken life energy and awareness.

• Iyengar yoga: This type of yoga focuses on precise alignment of the poses. Participants use "props" like blankets, straps, mats, blocks, and chairs.

• Restorative yoga: This practice allows the body to fully relax by holding simple postures passively for extended periods of time. To get completely comfortable in poses, props (blankets, bolsters, pillows, and blocks) are used.

• Vinyasa/power yoga: Similar to Ashtanga yoga, these are also very active forms of yoga that improve strength, flexibility, and stamina. This type of yoga is popular in the United States.

• Yin yoga: This is a slow-paced style of yoga. Poses are held for several minutes to allow for deep stretching.

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If you are a teacher looking to deepen your knowledge and take your teaching to a new level, take a workshop that you can do  online at your own pace. These courses count as contact hours for your Yoga Alliance continuing education courses. 

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Through December 2023, all online offerings will be counted towards contact hours for Yoga Alliance Continuing Education requirements.

 

To see updated requirements for teaching hours and continuing education, visit the Yoga Alliance website HERE

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To view & purchase my current workshop offerings, click HERE