What is your yoga style?

 

Anusara

What to expect:
An emphasis on proper alignment and catering the pose to the student. Props are used often, and partner work is common. Students are encouraged to get in touch with their emotions.
Expect plenty of heart-opening poses and more talking than in other classes. Music is common in Anusara classes.
Good for:
Those looking to use yoga as therapy or who want an emotional yoga experience.
Those who want to focus on alignment.
Those looking for a positive, lighthearted environment.
Avoid if:
You don’t want to talk about your feelings.
You don’t want to touch your fellow students.
You might also like:
Iyengar for the alignment.
Jivamukti for the spirituality.

Ashtanga

What to expect:
Six series of set postures traditionally taught one pose at a time, in the style of Sri K Pattabhi Jois. In the US, most classes focus on the Primary Series, which is adaptable for beginners but is challenging for those who aren’t exercising already. Students often work at their own pace (called Mysore-style) with the teacher assisting and teaching new poses as previous ones are mastered. Focus is on breath, bandhas (energy locks), and drishti (fixed gaze points), and poses are linked–no pausing in between. The series can be customized to suit any body type at any level. Expect led classes to move at a rigorous pace with “vinyasas” (plank-chaturanga-up dog-down dog transitions) between poses and plenty of hands-on attention from the teacher.
No music. Each pose is held for five breaths, and led Primary Series classes last 75-90 minutes, though beginners classes are often shorter. Props are not traditionally used, but many teachers will allow them. “Ashta” means eight in Sanskrit, and “Ashtunga” yoga refers to the eight limbs of yoga.
Good for:
Anyone interested in yoga.
Anyone who wants to learn a set series they can do at home.
Avoid if:
You want a slow, gentle yoga class.
You have a current injury and are a beginner. (Advanced or intermediate yogis will feel comfortable adjusting as needed).
You have a shoulder injury (lots of low pushups).
You might also like:
Iyengar yoga for the attention to detail.
Power yoga for the strength building.
Jivamukti yoga for the spiritual practice.

Bikram

What to expect:
Rigid 90-minute classes consisting of 26 poses and 2 breathing exercises each held for a minute and repeated twice. Named after the founder, Bikram Choudhury, the practice is performed in a room heated to 105 degrees with 40% humidity. No music.
Good for:
Competitive types (Bikram yoga embraces the “yoga as a sport” movement).
Avoid if:
You are pregnant, have circulation issues, hate to sweat, like classes with music, or have high blood pressure.
You might also like:
Hot vinyasa yoga for the heat.
Ashtanga yoga or Iyengar yoga for the consistency.
Moksha yoga for the heat.

Hatha

What to expect:
Hatha yoga refers to any form of yoga that’s gentle and slow-paced, usually well-suited for beginners.
Good for: Anyone with mobility issues.
Beginners.
Seniors
Pregnant women (with modifications)
Avoid if: Anyone looking for a rigorous practice.
You might also like:
Classes called Kripalu, slow flow, restorative, gentle, or beginners yoga.

Iyengar

What to expect:
Both Pattabhi Jois, the founder of Ashtanga yoga, and B.K.S. Iyengar were trained by Krishnamacharya, known as the father of modern yoga. Iyengar yoga focuses on alignment, and poses are taught with an attention to detail. Props such as chairs, blocks, straps, and blankets are used for almost all poses, regardless of a student’s level. Poses are often held longer than in other classes, and you might do the same pose various ways in the same class. Classes move at a slow progression. Iyengar classes can feel quite serious, but you will learn a great deal.
Good for:
Anyone interested in learning more about yoga, especially anatomy and alignment.
Great for beginners, those recovering from injuries, and anyone with mobility issues. Appropriate for the young and old.
Avoid if:
You prefer a fast-paced class or one with music.
You prefer your classes to be less serious.
You prefer a more meditative environment.
You might also like:
Anusara for the alignment.
Viniyoga for the attention to your body.
Ashtanga yoga for the consistency.

Jivamukti

What to expect:
Jivamukti yoga was founded by Sharon Gannon and David Life, two former Ashtanga teachers. The jivamukti practice retains the same intensity that Ashtanga does, with an emphasis on veganism and kindness toward all beings. Jivamukti means liberation while living, and the practice is spiritual and diverse. Expect to hear chants, music, and sometimes references to animal rights.
Good for:
Vegans and vegetarians.
Those looking for a spiritual connection to their practice.
Those looking for a rigorous practice.
Avoid if:
Meat eaters might not feel comfortable with this branch of yoga. All jivamukti teachers are vegan, and they are very vocal about their beliefs.
You want a slow-paced practice.
You might also like:
Ashtanga, which is the branch that the Jivamukti founders first studied.
Power yoga, which has the same physical demands without the spiritual aspect.

Kripalu

What to expect:
A gentle style that emphasizes moving at a pace that suits you, Kripalu is form of hatha yoga. The practice focuses on physical healing, meditation, and spiritual transformation both on the mat and off.
Good for:
Anyone with mobility issues
Great for beginners
Suitable for those looking for an individualized practice.
Avoid if:
Those looking for a more rigorous practice.
You might also like:
Viniyoga for a practice catered to your body.
Any type of hatha yoga.

Kundalini

What to expect:
Kundalini yoga focuses on linking breath and movement, with the intent of releasing energy from the lower body and sending it upward. The focus is on awareness and an increased consciousness to bring you closer to enlightenment. In yoga, “kundalini” refers to a coil of dormant energy that rests at the base of the spine. The aim of kundalini yoga is to awaken, harness and release this energy. This branch of yoga is very meditative and spiritual, and they move much more slowly than other classes with a focus on meditation and pranayama (breathing exercises).
Good for:
Anyone looking for a “deeper” spiritual connection to their yoga practice.
Avoid if:
Anyone who feels that this practice would conflict with their spiritual beliefs.
Anyone looking for a purely physical experience.
You might also like:
Jivamukti for a more physical yet spiritual practice.
Hatha or Kripalu yoga for a slower-paced practice with less focus on energy.

Power

What to expect:
This form of yoga is very active and athletic, and it was originally a westernized form of Ashtanga. It has since evolved to include different poses, though many of the Ashtanga poses remain. Power yoga includes additional strength moves and core work.
Expect lots of “vinyasas” between poses, with plenty of handstands and other strength-building poses.
Good for:
Those who want a rigorous practice.
Those looking for a challenge.
Avoid if:
Those who prefer a gentle yoga practice.
Beginners.
Those with limited mobility.
You have a shoulder injury (lots of low pushups).
You might also like:
Ashtanga, which is the traditional practice that inspired Power yoga.
Rocket, an offshoot of Ashtanga that adds hard poses early on.
Vinyasa classes that flow at a steady pace.

Viniyoga

What to expect:
Founded by Krishnamacharya’s son, T.K.V. Desikachar, viniyoga is highly individualized with an emphasis on adapting every pose and every practice to suit a person’s needs and abilities. The practice is often taught one on one and is sometimes referred to as “yoga therapy.”
Good for:
Anyone with back pain.
Those with mobility issues.
Those recovering from an injury.
Avoid if:
You are looking for a group setting.
You want a traditional class.
You want to move quickly and sweat.
You might also like:
Iyengar yoga for the attention to alignment.
Kripalu for the emphasis on individual practice.
Ashtanga yoga for the attention to detail.

Vinyasa

What to expect:
Vinyasa yoga is the general term used for faster-paced “flow” classes. These classes can cross various schools of yoga, and they will move faster than a hatha class.
Good for:
Anyone looking for a faster-paced class.
Anyone who gets bored easily with their fitness routine, as classes are rarely the same.
Avoid if:
Those extremely new to exercise should not take vinyasa classes (or be prepared to modify to suit your needs).
Those with mobility issues.
You have a shoulder injury (lots of low pushups).
You want a slow, gentle workout.
You might also like:
Ashtanga for the flowing pace with no music and a preset series of poses.
Power for the flowing pace and variety.
Jivamukti for the flowing pace and spiritual aspect.

Yin

What to expect:
Also called Taoist yoga, yin yoga integrates principles of hatha yoga and qi gong, along with other aspects of Taoism. Yin yoga focuses on connective tissues (ligaments and tendons) rather than muscles. It does not focus on warming the muscles or moving quickly; rather it encourages long-held poses that foster relaxation. Yin poses are very passive and often done with props. Expect very long holds–five minutes or more.
Good for:
Those with mobility issues.
Anyone recovering from an injury.
Those looking for a restorative practice.
Great for athletes looking for a way to repair overuse and gain flexibility.
Good for beginners.
If you meditate, this is a good practice for you.
Avoid if:
Anyone who wants a fast-paced class or who doesn’t want to sit still.
You might also like:
Hatha (gentle or restorative) classes for the slower pace.
Kripalu for the attention to the individual’s practice.
Viniyoga for the attention to the individual.

 

The chronicles of a roaming traveller: travelling versus travel literature

Travellers’ tales are a well-established element in travel literature both in ancient and modern times. Wandering heroes like Odysseus and Aeneas were long-time staples of popular legend and literary epic alike, or the adventures of Tin Tin and his swashbuckling adventures with elements of fantasy, mystery, politics, and science fiction. Writers with an interest in geography and history used travellers’ accounts to help them paint a picture of foreign lands for their readers. The difference is you can read about the writers and poets who wrote about their travels, or you can read about the sophisticated satire and political or cultural commentary of a fictional character where a writer took you places far beyond the imagination, both of which can be far more surreal than an actual holiday destination.

We are all outsiders when we travel. Whether we go abroad or roam about our own country, we often enter territory so unfamiliar that our frames of reference becomes inadequate. Whatever your travellers tales are, they dont necessarily have to be about a fancy trip overseas, a bargain basement tour, nor does it have to be via a specific mode of transport. It could be well defined by what you are doing now or what you are reading now, your travel imagination. What destinations are you reading about, are they real or imaginary, what are the reasons you seek to travel, or how intrigued are you about the great writers, poets and adventurers like Byron, Shelley, Keats, Hemingway or James Joyce, and wonder where were they when they were writing and what inspired them.

The concept of travel can tell us more about who we are, who others are and what the world is better than anything else. It removes us from what is comfortable and drops us into unpredictable, uncomfortable situations in which we have to be on our toes.  Travelling also makes you appreciate being back home. Then again, when you are home for too long you wish you were travelling. This is when it is time to connect with travel literature that can again take you away. Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced. ― Søren Kierkegaard.

Adventure travel advice from Blue Netherclift of Wild Earth Adventures

Blue Netherclift first hit the road when he finished college. After graduating from London University’s Agricultural College, he headed to Africa, South America and eventually landed in British Columbia, Canada. Of course, saying landed might be a little too permanent. As the founder and director of Wild Earth Adventures, a boutique tour agency which creates wilderness and other nature-focused, extraordinary experiences, he’s out on the road for about half the year canoeing, trekking and exploring.

The company’s tours have been featured on BBC and in National Geographic and for good reason. One of Netherclift’s favorite excursions which he’s been leading since 2005 is to Bella Coola in the Pacific Coast Mountain Range. “It’s Alaska meets Norway on the frontier of the Great Bear Rainforest,” he says. And here are the rest of the outdoorsman’s tips on getting the best out of the frontier.

1. What’s the best piece of travel advice you’ve ever gotten? 

Avoid other peoples misconceptions and make your own discoveries. I never read travel guides. The locals are always the best source of knowledge–particularly about where to eat and get a good coffee!

2. When did you know that you were a “traveller”? 

Travelling is a lifestyle which started for me as soon as I graduated from formal education. Travelling is the ultimate freedom and that’s what I live for. It’s a state of mind as much as anything.

3. Where do you keep going back to? 

I kept coming back to the Kootenay Rockies in British Columbia until I made it my permanent home. It has so much to offer for the outdoor enthusiast in all four seasons. It is the vast space and beauty plus gold rush heritage and artisan community which I find fascinating.

4. You lead a lot of tours, how do you make sure your guests enjoy their experience? How do you know they’re having a good time? 

It’s all about the food and company. The best organic, local ingredients go into our meals which are always served with a big smile. If your guests eat well and laugh a lot they will have a great time.

5. Your tours have been featured on BBC and in National Geographic. How did that impact your tours?

This kind of exposure just proves that the trips have been well-established and have all the right ingredients, so we are happy to continue the format that works. People are happy to trust our knowledge and guarantee them a lifetime experience.

6. Have you ever been up-close with a dangerous animal? Tell us about that. 

We live and work in Grizzly and Black Bear habitat which has led to many encounters. The first time I was charged by a Black Bear there were three of us taking photographs. We got too close, the bear lost its patience and charged. We ran as fast as we could towards the car, breaking the first rule that you should not run and provoke the bear into chasing. They run as fast as a race horse. We never made it to the car and the bear gave up chasing us. My friend realised he had wet himself in the panic. It was a lesson to remind us that bears really just want to be left alone.

I have a huge respect for wild animals and over time and through exposure I have found that I am very calm being up-close to bears. If you feel a real connection to the natural world there is a heightened sense of awareness. People always ask what to do and find it funny when I tell them to talk nice. It’s true though, if you remain calm and the bear knows you are not a threat then most of the time they are not interested in conflict.

7. What can you find in Canada that you can’t find anywhere else in the world? 

There are no people in what is a vast inhabitable wilderness. It’s amazing to have huge tracts of pristine wilderness all to yourself. There are not many places like that left in the world.

8. How is adventure travel different psychologically than say, a five-star resort in the Caribbean? 

The reconnection to nature is a pure experience that is lacking in a five star resort. It invigorates the soul and rejuvenates the mind. A five star resort is physically very relaxing but it’s not a pure holistic experience that involves mind, soul and body in such a complete way.

9. How much do you pack for an outdoors trip? 

I like to travel light and move fast. A good night sleep is important so I will make sure I have a good sleeping bag and a full-length Therm-a-Rest inflatable mattress. After that, the less stuff the better.

10. What do you never leave home without?

I love my Sanuck sandals… It’s good to have a light change of footwear for the camp and for around town.

11. What are your tips for taking great adventure travel photos? 

Composition. It’s not about the camera. It’s about the angles and the imagination. I love Instagram too… I use my iPhone exclusively at the moment and the quality is amazing although it’s not great for prints.

12. Do you bring anything back from your trips? 

Memories.

The art (and artistry) of travel with violinist, singer and composer Sophie Serafino

Sophie Serafino and her violin (as well as her voice and composing talents) have travelled the world. She has played at more than 400 concerts—from violin concerts for guests of the Crown Prince of Dubai to recording with performers like Goldfrapp and Josh Groban to deejaying on New Years Eve in Istanbul. Her music combines classical with pop, rock and other contemporary styles and that fearlessness to play outside the lines extends to her traveling style—within legal limits, of course.

The Sydney-raised, Calgary-based, multi-talented musician’s heavy travel schedule is dictated by work but she finds plenty of time to enjoy her destinations too whether it’s getting a local meal or one-of-a-kind souvenirs. While Paris, Istanbul, Toronto and Rome are her most frequented locations she also travels to Asia, Africa and North America regularly.

These days, Serafino spends about a third of her year travelling, plenty of time for this road warrior to hone her travel smarts.

1. What’s the best piece of travel advice you’ve ever gotten?
Check international laws, customs and weather before going to a country you have never been to.

2. What’s the first thing you look for when you touch down?
Water! Flying is so dehydrating.

3. When did you start feeling like a “traveller”?
When I realised my idea of a vacation was staying home!

4. How do you decide your next destination?
My work as a musician dictates and my destinations—and they are all over the place from Casablanca, to Paris, Istanbul, Berlin, London, Tokyo to Toronto, Milan to Hong Kong.

5. Do you shop when you travel? What do you buy?
I love to get things I know I can’t get anywhere else—especially unique fashion or art. I love little mementos of where I’ve been like street posters. I collected so many in Europe, and they’re all framed and on my walls.

6. What was the most unexpected place you’ve gone? How did you end up going there?
Istanbul. It has become one of my most favourite cities in the world, but at first, an enquiry to my booking agent via MySpace seemed like a hoax… until they signed the contract and sent the deposit.

7. Name a person you never thought you’d meet on a trip but were glad that you did. What happened?
A fantastic artist from Milan. I was travelling from Istanbul to Rome and happened to be sitting next to this striking man, who turned out to have just completed an exhibition of his works in Turkey. I had a small cold, but was otherwise well, or so I thought.

I burst an eardrum and passed out on landing. Later, he came to the hospital to see if I was okay and if needed a lift in case I didn’t know anyone! We became friends and he later hired me for one of his campaigns… You never know what will happen in life.

8. What art fairs or festivals do you look forward to each year? What makes them so great?
The Italian Film Festival in Sydney (I just love Italian cinema); Sydney Latin Festival at Bondi Beach (how can you beat dancing on the beach?); and the Calgary Stampede. It’s cowgirl heaven. But my number one favourite is Carnevale di Venezia. A masked ball in Venice? Speaks for itself.

9. What was the most surprising thing you saw or learned at an art fair?
At a stringed instrument exhibition in Venice, I learned about the history of the violin by being able to see some ancient stringed instruments, some of which I had only read about in history books.

10. What is the most outrageous thing you have ever seen at one of your shows?
The most outrageous things I have seen at one of my shows was spontaneous fireworks, at least spontaneous to me as I had no idea. I was so surprised. Usually when a show includes pyrotechnics a warning is issued, but not in Turkey. I performed my last note and when they started going off, I nearly dropped my violin I was so taken by surprise.

Spiritual travel advice from Smt. Hansaji Jayadeva Yogendra of Mumbai’s Yoga Institute

Yoga retreats have matured from their hippie roots into an unforgettable experience for those whose scent of choice isn’t patchouli too. And of course, India, the birthplace of yoga is one of the most popular and exotic places to experience the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual powers of yoga.

Smt. Hansaji Jayadeva Yogendra is the president of the International Board of Yoga and the director of Mumbai’s Yoga Institute, the oldest centre for yoga in the world. A standout yogi since she was young, Hansaji she continued on to promote yoga around the world as well as studying how yoga can help patients with heart disease and mothers. But she’s always excited to meet a traveller, especially one seeking the rewards yoga can offer.

We asked her how to get the most out of a yoga retreat, and how she maintains her spirituality even while travelling.

1. How is a yoga retreat different from any other travel experience?
A yoga retreat is different because you go for your self-development—physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

The moment one comes to the yoga retreat, one knows that yoga deals with you and your life. It improves your memory and concentration. They add to flexibility and immunity improves. One learns how to manage stress and anger and regain balance and calm.

2. What kind of travellers are you most excited to meet?
Healthy, happy, simple travellers willing to adjust to any situation.

3. How can travellers make the most of a yoga retreat? What should they prepare before they go?
In case one has any health problems, one should bring copies of medical reports. But most importantly, they should be prepared to accept all kinds of situations.

4. What should yoga-focused travellers be sure to pack?
Healthy hygienic food and comfortable loose clothes which cover the whole body. Men should pack some T-shirts and pants or kurta-pyjama. Women should pack T-shirts, kurtas, pants or salwar kameez.

5. How do you find a spiritual experience even when you are travelling?
Since you are with nature while travelling, go to a natural place and sit quietly and concentrate on some object or sound. This will give you calm and strength.

The Yoga Institute Mumbai, inculcates a spirit of tranquility and balanced state of mind. One experiences health, happiness and harmony. Yoga concentrates on true spirituality.

6. What are some myths about practicing yoga in India that need to be dispelled?
For peace and enlightenment you don’t have to go to a great Guru with saffron robes and a long beard or a lady in a special dress code. Simple householders can be highly spiritual and every human being has the potential to be divine. In yoga, the emphasis is on true spirituality at a universal level and no religion is involved.

7. What advice do you have for women to feel more comfortable while travelling in India?
Proper loose clothing that covers the full body, including the legs, is recommended. When travelling through the country, it is safest to ask for directions and information from a policeman or a travel agency.