Wanderlust Yoga Channel

What is yoga? Oof, that is the question. Ask 100 people that question, and you'll get 95 different answers. What yoga is, depends on the person practicing it. Each and every person that comes to yoga comes for a different reason.

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My question for you, is what are you seeking that you are looking at yoga?

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There are so many aspects of yoga. The very, very, very original concept of yoga looked nothing at all like the yoga that most people in the western world know. 

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If you are simply asking about western yoga, you are still asking an extremely complicated question. There are so many different versions of yoga in the western world. Depending on the person you ask, some are "real" yoga, some aren't. 

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So...here I go, a super quick breakdown of yoga: 

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Yoga at its root is a mindset. Roughly 5,000 years ago the mystical yogi (a gender-neutral term for a person that practices yoga) Patanjali wrote about the 8 limbs of yoga. This was the way to achieve bliss. The original texts, as currently understood, barely mentioned the actual postures. It was a blueprint for better living.

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About 1,000 years ago the Hatha yoga tree sprouted. Since then, the focus has become more and more focused on the asana, or posture portion, of yoga. There are now several different types of Hatha yoga you can do. Like I mentioned, depending on the person you ask, they may, or may not agree with a type of yoga being "true" yoga. 

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Types of yoga

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1. Vinyasa: Flow based yoga

2. Ashtanga: A rigid set of poses performed in exactly the same order every class. 

3. Power: Similar to vinyasa. You move through the postures much more quickly; the goal is a "good workout".

4. Iyengar: Focused on getting the postures exactly perfect, expect to spend long periods of time working on each posture. 

5. Kundalini: Designed to waken your primal energies, it includes chanting, repetitive movement, meditation, and breath practice.

6. Yin: A very slow form of yoga, the focus is on long holds, up to 15 minutes, to allow deep tissue activation.

7. Bikram: a "hot" yoga, you will go through exactly 26 postures in a roughly 100°F room. 

8. Hot: vinyasa or power yoga done in a room roughly 100°F. 

9. Aerial: This practice takes you off the mat using yoga hammocks. 

10. Restorative: Makes generous use of blankets, pillows, and props to support the body to promote full relaxation. Each posture is held for up to 30 minutes. 

11. Wine and Chocolate: usually a vinyasa or power class with wine and chocolate available after the class. 

12. Goat/Puppy/Kitten: Usually a vinyasa class performed while the animal in the description interacts with the participant.

13. Dance: a rhythm-based yoga using traditional postures combined with music and dancing. 

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Whether you are coming to yoga for the physical benefits or mental benefits, there is something for everyone.