| Hatha Yoga is the most popular and widespread | | | | with the first stage focusing on correct postures and |
| tradition of Yoga and is especially accessible in the | | | | breathing, the second stage adding meditation and |
| western cultures that have adopted it for both is | | | | then in the third stage progressing to the postures |
| physical and mental wellbeing aspects. Within the | | | | and the meditation combined - a kind of 'meditation in |
| Hatha tradition, there have been a number of | | | | motion'. |
| prominent practitioners whose influence has been so | | | | Yoga and meditation have long been associated with |
| marked that schools of Yoga have adopted their | | | | chanting 'Om' and this element of Yoga practice |
| versions and gone on to inspire others. Here's a quick | | | | became central to Integral Yoga developed by |
| 'who's who' in Hatha Yoga and the styles they | | | | Swami Satchidananda. Satchidananda came to |
| developed. | | | | prominence around Woodstock (1969) and set a |
| Shri Krishnamacharya developed an approach called | | | | generation of Baby Boomers chanting 'Om', while |
| Viniyoga. It works with a sequential process of poses | | | | focusing breathing techniques, deep relaxation and |
| and focuses not on achieving any external ideal form, | | | | meditation. |
| but on practising in accordance with your own needs | | | | Bikram Yoga is a style of Yoga taught by Bikram |
| and capacities. His approach, and the follow on work | | | | Choudhury. You may recognise the name as one of |
| by his son and a number of other Yoga masters, is | | | | the people who has taught Yoga to Hollywood stars. |
| widely credited with the widespread popularisation of | | | | It requires a good level of fitness to participate as it |
| Yoga across the Western world. | | | | is quite vigorous. |
| B.K.S Iyengar was the brother-in-law of Shri | | | | And, finally, you should be aware of Kundalini Yoga |
| Krishnamacharya and created Iyengar yoga, which is | | | | which is a style of Hatha Yoga (as well as Yoga |
| now the most widely recognised approach to Hatha | | | | tradition in its own right) developed by Yogi Bhajan. |
| Yoga. This approach focuses on correct positioning | | | | Its purpose is to awaken the 'serpent power' though |
| using various props, such as wood blocks, straps, | | | | postures, meditation, breath control and chanting. |
| cushions and benches. He, and now his school, has | | | | There are many other styles that you may hear |
| trained thousands of teachers, which has also | | | | mention of including hidden-language yoga which |
| contributed to the spread of this style of yoga. | | | | promotes self-understanding alongside physical |
| Ashtanga Yoga is also known as Power Yoga is by | | | | postures or Somatic Yoga, founded by Eleanor |
| far the most athletic form of Yoga. It was | | | | Creswell which emphasises very slow movement, |
| developed by K. Pattabhi Jois who was a disciple of | | | | relaxation between postures and conscious breathing. |
| Shri Krishnamacharya and brought a very modern | | | | Whichever style you encounter, try to remain open |
| sensibility to the Hatha Yoga tradition. | | | | to its philosophy and approach and then find the one |
| Kripalu Yoga is a three-staged Yoga, developed by | | | | that works best for you and the lifestyle goals that |
| Yogi Amrit Desai. The three stages make the overall | | | | bring you to Yoga. You will then be sure to discover |
| Yoga tradition more accessible for western students | | | | and enjoy the benefits of Yoga for a lifetime. |