 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Yoga-Quest! Hilary of the LA Times wanted to try yoga, but: Hilary was confused! |
|
|
|
"I set out on a quest to find the yoga for me. The array of choices was bewildering…After talking to various gurus I narrowed my search to four forms of yoga: Kundalini, Ashtanga, Iyengar and Bikram. With the exception of Kundalini all are forms of Hatha, the physical form of yoga."
Tom's comment: Iyengar, Ashtanga and Bikram are currently, (anecdotally), among the most practiced forms of hatha yoga in the US.
So Hilary nibbled!
She took one class of each type to see. Not the most scientific, but this is the press.
And found:
"Ashtanga has the reputation of being the most difficult form of yoga. . .Forty minutes into a 2.5 hour class, I was so exhausted [the teacher] told me to stop."
Tom's comment: Ashtanga is a pure "flow" form of yoga. The student works continuously, flowing between poses. It is challenging for the physically fit, more so for the unfit or those from the land of the somewhat-inflexible.
And:
"Bikram yoga is extreme, and seems to appeal to extreme
people. It consists of 26 poses, each done twice, always in the same sequence.
. .
Bikram…heats the room to 105 degrees. . .At times I thought I was
going to pass out from the heat. There was no one-on-one instruction."
Tom's comment: 105 degrees is the Bikram ideal. 85 degrees is allowed. Humidity is should be 60-70 per cent. (Bikram is attempting to replicate India.) Bring a water bottle and a towel. I do not concur that Bikram is extreme or for extreme people. Bikram is a solid program that gets good yogic results. It is just not for everyone.
Hilary, continued:
Iyengar Yoga focuses on teaching the classic postures through correct alignment and precise actions…Unlike the other teachers, [the Iyengar teacher] circulated through the class, straightening our knees, pulling back our shoulders, watching carefully to make sure we did not injure ourselves or push too hard.
Iyengar yoga also uses props for support - blocks, blankets, chairs. The more inflexible you are the more you use props. I used everything.
While Iyengar continues to advanced levels, most yoga teachers recommend that any aspiring student at least begin with an Iyengar class to master the postures."
Tom's comment: A good mini-description of Iyengar and how I teach, based on my Iyengar background and training. I don't think however that "most yoga teacher's" agree on anything at all.
And although what I teach is primarily Iyengar, (I call my style "Iyengar-based"), I toss in what I consider to be good Bikram and Ashtanga stuff, etc., etc. No one has cornered the market on yogic correctitude.
--------From the LA Times, 2/26/02
|
|