Hatha Yoga - an ancient art and science of living
The regular practice of Hatha Yoga contributes to physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing. It can help you to gain greater self-awareness and take responsibility for your own health and happiness.
Iyengar Yoga.
Iyengar
yoga is a style of hatha (physical) yoga - as developed by B.K.S. Iyengar
of Pune, India - which involves a systematic study of asanas (postures)
and pranayama (breath awareness). There is an emphasis on precision and
alignment. The benefits include: increased strength, flexibility and equilibrium
(both physical and mental); improved posture, muscle tone, breathing,
concentration and relaxation.
Astanga Vinyasa Yoga.
Astanga
Vinyasa yoga is a dynamic, flowing, aerobic sequence of postures linked
by the breath. Astanga Vinyasa yoga is physically very demanding and requires
a good level of fitness and, preferably, a prior study of Iyengar yoga,
where the same postures are studied individually and in greater depth.
Students begin by learning the Surya Namaskar (sun salutations), breathing
and bandhas (body locks), and then continue to learn and practise the
series sequentially. The practice of this style of yoga develops in the
student great strength, stamina and flexibility, as well as balance, co-ordination
and a well-sculpted body.
Many ailments and physical health conditions can be overcome and prevented by the practice of hatha yoga. But Iyengar yoga and Astanga Vinyasa yoga are not only physically therapeutic. Through the postures and breath the practitioner becomes calmer, more centred, grounded and better able to cope with emotional stress. Balance in mental state and life is achieved by regular practice. Ultimately this is what yoga is all about: achieving integration, balance and harmony in one's health, life, work and community. We feel this is the ideal and most complete physical and mental fitness programme for people who lead an active and often stressful life.
Yoga's time has come, a 5000 year-old discipline, which offers solutions to many of the problems of living in the modern world.