Those of you, who have been exploring the various yoga forms and styles for some time now, will find your answers here. When it comes to creating harmony in your mind, body and soul, only one healing science comes to mind. It is none other than Yoga. Yoga is a holistic ancient science which has intrigued everybody since the old times. And when you get down to exploring yoga, you come across numerous styles. On top of that, the location where you learn yoga from, also matters. Yoga practitioners and learners are often faced with numerous choices which makes things confusing. Kerala is one of the places where you can learn about more than one yoga form. And it is authentic to the core. And that is why, many are taking the Yoga Teacher Training in Varkala route.
Hatha Yoga and Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga are the two most common yoga styles that you will come across. Let us find out what they are, and how they are taught in Kerala.
Hatha Yoga And Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga – Two Yoga Styles Having Unique Characteristics
When you enrol for the 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training in Varkala, you will be able to learn about both of these. Let us explore each one and find out what they bring forth for the practitioner.
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Background
Hatha Yoga Teacher Training is an ancient yoga form, which defies time. You probably will find its mention in the Vedas. It is the form which is actually deep rooted in Indian culture. And it is often the first form which students encounter. The Hatha Yoga Pradipika describes Hatha Yoga in complete detail. It mainly focuses on the physical aspects of yoga. It makes you ready physically, by enhancing your stability, stamina, and strength, so that you can later focus on higher objectives like achieving oneness with the universe.
On the other hand, Ashtanga Vinyasa is a very demanding yoga form, which is based on the eight sutras. In this yoga form, the breath assumes a lot of importance, and so does the gaze. These guide the movements and asana. It finds mention in the texts penned down in ‘Yoga Korunta’. T Krishnamacharya further modified the texts to suit modern practitioners of yoga. Thereafter his disciple did his own studies and research and developed the now-practiced Ashtanga-Vinyasa Yoga.
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Principles Of Practice
Let us talk about Hatha Yoga in the very beginning. It is more flexible in form than Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. And you can very well observe, that there is no stringent rule to maintain the sequence. There is an equal balance of asanas and Pranayama, as a part of the course. You will just be required to maintain clarity, when you practice this yoga form. Relaxation is one of the core principles apart from maintaining stability and stamina. You can also compare Hatha Yoga to strength-building exercises. In the 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training in Varkala, you will be able to study Hatha Yoga in great detail.
Now, in the realm of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, there is a sequence of asanas that you need to follow. There are three series of asanas. But in the more contemporary version, you do not have to maintain the sequence as such. But two things are omnipresent, as a part of the course. They are the gaze and the breath. These are responsible for guiding the movements, and not the other way. Moreover, one is supposed to maintain bandhas, or energy locks, which further lead to focusing the energies.
- Class Structure
In Hatha Yoga, you do not have to maintain any sequence as such. Most Hatha Yoga classes start with cleansing and warm ups. Thereafter, you are required to move at a slow pace, through standing asanas, seated ones, supine ones and prone position asanas. As you navigate through the asanas, you will also be required to do inverted poses, backbends, front bends, and so on. The classes are extremely slow, which gives beginners ample time to focus on the poses. The main goal of Hatha Yoga classes is to focus and remain in the stance for a longer period of time. This yoga form is more suitable for beginners. However, all levels of yoga practitioners can engage in this.
On the other hand, in Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, The classes will have a few preset rules and sequences. You must proceed through the sequences one by one. It depends on your level of practice as well. It is much more vigorous in form and structure than Hatha Yoga. You can find it to be very aerobic in nature, as you move from one asana or pose to another. Thus, making it very physically demanding. You must master the basic poses or asanas, before you navigate to the advanced poses. You will be taught about both these forms in the Yoga Teacher Training in Varkala.
Now, as you navigate through the classes, you will be able to find out how both these forms also differ in terms of benefits and experience level of the yoga practitioners.
Why Should You Choose Varkala in Kerala For The Course?
Varkala is a coastal place in Kerala, and is renowned for its pristine beaches and palm trees. You will find many foreigners staying in the place for tourism as well. The place is also steeped in traditions and culture of the South. You will come across many holy sites like temples and beaches as well. And it is the hub of yoga and spirituality, too. If you want to explore a holistic subject like yoga, Varkala is one of the best places for you to be in. You can join the Yoga Teacher Training in Varkala, and find out the benefits that are to arrive after that.
You will come across many yoga schools and retreats as well. People from all over the world drop in for classes all around the year. The climate is also conducive. So, you can also check out the schools and retreats. The 200 hrs course is a Yoga Alliance certified course, which you can enrol in. It will help you delve deeper into both these unique yoga forms.
Conclusion
Join the course and see what changes seep into your life. It is going to be a wonderful life ahead.
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