What is the ‘hot’ in hot yoga?
Hot Yoga
Hot Yoga is built on many of the poses and philosophies of Bikram Choudhury and Bishnu Ghosh, but incorporates different means ofentering into poses, as well as several variations so that practitioners of all abilities are able to experience the full benefits of the workout. His method of Hot Yoga is a set series of 26 yoga poses, including two pranayama exercises, each of which is performed twice in a single 90 minute class.
Yoga
Yoga, in general, is a spiritual practice or discipline that helps the individual unify his/her body, mind, and heart. Yoga is an exact science based on certain immutable Laws of Nature. Yoga is thus all-embracing, all-inclusive and universal in its application leading to all-round development of body, mind and soul. Yoga is control of mind and its modifications.
Karma Yoga
Karma Yoga emphasizes spiritual practice to help the individual unify body, mind, and heart through certain practices in one’s daily life and work. Karma Yoga is selfless service unto humanity. There is a hidden power in Karma or action termed ‘Adrishta’ which brings in fruits of Karmas for the individual. The practice of Karma Yoga prepares the aspirant for the reception of knowledge of the Self.
Tantra Yoga
Tantra Yoga studies the tree of life itself instead of limiting itself to any single branch of the tree. Tantra Yoga thus promotes a one-pointedness and centeredness that help us to free the consciousness from limitations. Tantra Yoga accepts desire as the prime motivating force of the universe, so it does not ask its’ aspirants to renounce desire. Instead of separating and categorizing the different areas of human knowledge, Tantra Yoga draws them together.
Bhakti Yoga
Bhakti Yoga is the path of pure spiritual devotion, love and surrender. Bhakti Yoga is regarded as the most direct method to merge in cosmic consciousness. The “Chakras” book, which offers detailed information on all main yoga techniques and on chakra meditation, which involves all aspects of Ashtanga Yoga. In Bhakti yoga, everything is but a manifestation of the divine and all else is meaningless, including the Ego.
Hatha Yoga
Hatha yoga contains substantial tantric influence and marks the first point at which chakras and kundalini were introduced into the yogic canon. Hatha Yoga in its many modern variations is the style that most people actually associate with the word “Yoga” today. Outside India, Yoga is mostly associated with the practice of asanas (postures) of Hatha Yoga or as a form of exercise, although it has influenced the entire Indian religions family and other spiritual practices throughout the world. They are sometimes divided into the lower and the upper four limbs, the lower ones being parallel to the lower limbs of Hatha Yoga, while the upper ones being specific for the Raja yoga.
