Anusara yoga question

[Apasaraw]

This is for Twinyoga and anyone else who may have a hatha yoga practice...

I am someone who has done pilates since the days when it was called contrology. I have friends who practice the body yoga sing it's praises and I have seen it work for them in their lives on many levels. I have been curious to try it again lately. I feel it calling...I cannot explain why.

I have tried yoga at various times in life and it has always disagreed with my body. Now with the new schools of "power yoga" and such I am really lost. Ashtanga doing sun salutations with speed is not somewhere I can start. I am a naturally "Yin-like" person if this makes sense and like to learn slowly and with intention.

I am looking for something slow and gentle that builds strength and balance as you go. I have read TwinYoga's posts on Anusara and how it is gentle. You have made me curious about this practice...

Any advice is appreciated....

[twinyoga]

I'll be glad to help. Anusara means Open to Grace. It's about all the goodness of yoga and life. It's opening to the divine. You can check out the website www.anusara.com.

The style is slightly flow like but I think it's a bit more like Iyengar (though not as strict as Iyengar). Basically, you start your practice with an intention, then your poses are alligned from the inside out. If your core is strong, your poses are strong, and you can attain the great feelings from being in a yoga pose then.

I do sweat in classes, but it's more from the intensity of focusing on the poses and not the hot room or moving fast.

Does that help? I can be more specific if you'd like. Or if you have more specific questions.

[tvillemom]

I would be very interested in finding out the different styles of yoga. I want to get a DVD to practice at home....but I'm not sure which "style" I want to do, and WHO should I look for as an instructor. I do not want something that is more religion focused, but want something to build strength, flexibility, and also help with stress relief....????? Am I asking too much?
Wendi

[twinyoga]

It's mostly trial and error with the DVD's. I actually own only one. I think the Rodney Yee/Patricia Walden AM and PM yoga are really nice. I also like Eric Schiffmann. Those are for becoming more flexible, learning the basics and just experimenting with yoga. I would suggest getting some from the library first so you don't have to waste money on something you don't like. I do that often.

I don't know where you live, but I'm sure you can find a beginners yoga class nearby. Just one class and about $15 later, you'll probably really understand what yoga is about.

Hope that helps. Oh, just remembered, I think Yoga Zone has a lot of videos that are very good. Look for those.

[swingbolder]

I've loved every anusara class I've ever taken. I'm a yin-like person too who likes their yoga on the slow side. Anusara pays a lot of attention to breathing/alignment so I never get injured.

As for pace, I think it depends on the teacher and class. I was taking a basic anusara class for awhile that was great, we went really slowly and the teacher made sure we all had our alignment right. I've also taken mixed level classes with another teacher and while the pace was a bit faster, it was NOTHING like power yoga or ashtanga or jivamukti. Very manageable.

I'm not crazy about the Rodney Yee/Patricia Walden videos. IMO they zip through the postures too quickly.

The only yoga tapes I'd really recommend are the Lilias Folan ones. She is a woman in her early 60s now I believe and was one of the first people to bring yoga into the mainstream with her Lilias, Yoga and You series on PBS back in the 70s. Although some of the postures she teaches are advanced depending on which level tape you get, overall her approach is very gentle and she usually gives variations to accomodate where everyone is at.

[asil]

I'm with you all! I like a slow, intense, inwardly focused class. I've taken Ashtanga and I like the flow aspect but I like me flow to be slow! :D

I think most beginners classes will tend to go slow and are a great way to get perspective and overview. I also think rodney Yee goes to fast. If you get Lime TV where you live, you might try Yoga Zone. It comes on several times a say here and I Tivo it. I've also seen their DVDs for sale.

Kundalini tends to be a bit slower and more inwardly focused too.

But I agree that you should just explore -- each teacher and school puts a slightly different spin on things. I've even found a Bikram teacher I like.

[tvillemom]

That's what I'm wanting to know. What's the difference between ashtanga, bikram, kundalini, jivamukti? There are so many "types" I don't know which kind to look for on DVD. Classes are so expensive here...if you can find one...most of them are 40 miles from where I live....I need a good DVD recommendation. Thanks....or at least the definitions as to the types, so I can make an informed decision.
Wendi

[fikustree]

Here is a link to the different styles of yoga http://www.freedayofyoga.com/styles.html

There is actually a form of yoga called "Yin Yoga" there are several tapes you can search amazon for. They hold poses for a long time.

Some of the best videos that fit what you are looking for are Alter of the Heart with Tilak Pyle, Yoga Booty Ballet, Kundalini Yoga wtih Ravi Singh and Ana Bret, Yoga Zone Yoga for stress relief and flexibility with Alan Finger, and my current favorite and Pure and Simple Yoga with Eoin Finn. You can find a bunch of reviews for videos on video fitness (www.videofitness.com)

[RawSoccerDude]

Hi there, my name is Cathy and I'm a friend of Michael's (rawsoccerdude). I practice Anusara yoga and Kundalini, and have tried lots of others. I agree with the responses suggesting to try out different styles, and teachers if possible to find a good fit for you.

I thought I'd also share a bit about Anusara, since my Anusara practice has been so life changing! Anusara IS all about opening up to grace - and translated more directly means stepping out of the cycle of samsara (our endless -or so it seems- cycle of birth, death, rebirth... suffering... not learning from exprience, etc.) into a place of divine and supreme consciousness.

The practice is not austere like many other forms, but celebratory! It's all about following your heart. I have become stronger and more graceful inside and out through this practice! Also, since the practice embodies a balance between the physical and spiritual aspects, Anusara includes a non-dualistic tantric philosophy coupled with the most sensible principles of alignment I have experienced in yoga. The principles of alignment pull from Iyengar and other teachers that John Friend studied with, and have helped me go deeper into poses, and touch places in myself that I had not connected with previously, while protecting myself from injury which is such a common problem with yogis that are pushed into a pose too far, or practicing without proper alignment.

If anyone wants to check it out, John Friend, who started Anusara is web -casting a workshop that will take place at the omega institute later this month. It costs money to watch, but you can download it and then use it as a home practice video later, if you like. Check it out at anusara.com

I honor the place within you where divinity dwells
I honor the place within myself where divinity dwells
When you are in your place and I am in mine, we are one!
Namaste,
Cathy