Styles of yoga / choosing a teacher, or system

All yoga involves the practice of postures / exercises and breathing, this is known as hatha yoga, the physical yoga that we can see. These practices are part of the system of yoga, that also includes the ‘way of doing things’, that is the philosophy and metaphysics, which includes the practice of study and meditation, or placing specific emphasis on a particular aspect of yoga. Yoga is, however, simply not yoga without including at least some of the basics of the entire discipline.

Within yoga there are many schools of thought, different masters and lineages. In modern times B.K.S. Iyengar has been a dominant force, and has established highly qualified teachers trained in hatha yoga all over the world. His book, ‘Light on Yoga’, remains a definitive and most popular publication on hatha practices. Integral yoga, literally integrating all the aspects of yoga practice is a mild, often more holistic school of thought. Known as the Sivananda school, with the prominent names of Krishnamacharya, Venkatesenanda and Desikechar, this forms one of the other main schools of traditional yoga.

Remedial, or corrective yoga, is a form of yoga therapy for healing and health, and the rest can roughly be divided into practices with emphasis on either the physical, or spiritual aspects, or different combinations of the two.

Modern, Westernised yoga has spawned many specialised forms of practice, hybrids as well as derivatives like Callanetics for instance. ‘Hollywood’ yoga, with superstars like Madonna and Sting, although much helping to establish yoga as a ‘normal’, popular form of exercise, has also lead to serious misconception of what yoga really is – a combination of physical and spiritual cultures, to improve the quality of health and harmony between body, mind and spirit.

A few breathing exercises, a spot of meditation or occasionally standing on the head or reading a book on the life and times of a guru does not constitute a sound yoga practice. Tantric-, Kundalini-, Asthanga-, or Power yoga, although ancient and otherwise legitimate, all has its basis in traditional yoga practices, and is best practiced in this context.

Choose a teacher that is qualified, or has some experience in teaching at least. Find somebody that embodies the qualities that you deem important for your needs: do they emphasise the spiritual aspect, or the physical aspects, and how difficult are their classes? Always start with a beginners class if possible, and do some self study from a book.

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