YOGA INFO
DID YOU KNOW?
“The journey of a thousand miles begins
with a single step”
- Lao-tzu
Yoga has been practised for thousands of years, it has evolved and will continue to evolve to accommodate an ever-changing society. Yoga actually means to “make a connection” – a deeper connection to yourself, a deeper connection to the world. Yoga philosophy has its roots in the Indus Valley civilisation, which spread out across Northern India and modern Pakistan. It was a culture connected to the earth, to nature and the harmony of life.
There are many famous philosophers/texts that have contributed to evolving Yoga such as the Aryan Vedic Culture and the writings of Vedas, Upanishads and The Bhagavad Gita, The Buddha, the writing of The Yoga Sutra by Patanjali, Life of Shankdara, Life of Abhinavagupta, the writing of The Hatha Yoga Pradipika and in the late 1800s the rediscovery of Surya Namasakar by Pratinidhi Pant who introduced it as part of a body building regime. The real revival of Hatha Yoga started in the late 19th century with the Life of Krishnamacharya and modern Yoga as we know it with the practice of asana, pranayama and meditation.
There are many forms of Yoga practised today; Vinyasa, Iyengar, Bikram, Hot, Ashtanga, Kundalini and Hatha Yoga which quite literally means “force” . Hatha Yoga is the foundation of all yoga styles and refers to any practice that combines asanas (physical exercises), pranayama (breathing exercises) and meditation. Most of the Yoga classes at Santosha Studio are Hatha style.
Restorative Yoga is style of Hatha Yoga which is slower and evolves supported long poses for complete relaxation. Yin Yoga is also a slow-paced style of Yoga as exercise that incorporates principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine, with asanas that are held for longer periods of time. The difference between the two is that when you practise Yin is that you need to find the uncomfortable edge of an asana to breathe into what is uncomfortable so that it might become comfortable.
Through practising Yoga or Pilates you are reconnecting your body, mind and spirit. The difference is the background/philosophy and the way in which it is achieved. Yoga is a strengthening practice but it also promotes great flexibility. In Hatha classes you would spend more time weight-bearing on your arms, having your head below your heart and there are many more breathing variations. Both are extremely good practises to incorporate in your daily life not just in the Studio for whole body, mental and spiritual health.
