Inclusive Yoga
At CLiC Retreats our yoga philosophy is that it is for everyone! No matter your age, body type, capability or experience, our yoga shows no discrimination. Whether you are an experienced yogi or a first-timer, our yoga classes are suitable for all levels. We want to share the powerful benefits of this ancient practice with as many people as possible and show you how yoga can be fun and accessible for all. Here’s a little taster about what yoga is, why it’s for everyone and the different types.
What exactly is yoga?
Is it a sport? Is it prayer? Is it a practice? Is it meditation? Is it a work out?
It’s all of these and more. Yoga is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India over 5,000 years ago. Over the past decade it has become increasingly popular and mainstream in the west.
Yoga is well known for its postures and poses, but they were not a key part of original yoga traditions in India. Fitness was not a primary goal. Practitioners and followers of yogic tradition focused instead on other practices, such as expanding spiritual energy using breathing methods and mental focus.
The "Yoga Sutra," a 2,000-year-old treatise on yogic philosophy by the Indian sage Patanjali, is a guidebook on how to master the mind, control the emotions, and grow spiritually. The Yoga Sutra is the earliest written record of yoga and one of the oldest texts in existence and provides the framework for all modern yoga.
The Eight-Limbed Yogic Path which have been described in the Yoga Sutras include yamas (restraint), niyamas (observances), asanas (postures), pranayama (breathing techniques), pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses), dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation) and samaadhi (enlightenment).
Benefits of Yoga
The benefits of yoga are endless and there is a reason why so many people fall in love with this ancient practice – it works!
Yoga has many physical and emotional benefits. That’s why it’s often linked to the concept of working on your mind, body and soul all at once.
For the mind:
· Can decrease stress
· Relieves anxiety - any people begin practicing yoga as a way to cope with feelings of anxiety.
· Improves quality of life
· May fight depression
For the body:
· Increase flexibility
· Could reduce chronic pain
· Increase muscle strength and tone
· improved respiration, energy and vitality
· maintaining a balanced metabolism
· weight reduction
· Could promote sleep quality
· Cardio and circulatory health
· Improved athletic performance
· May reduce inflammation
· Could improve heart health
· Protection from injury
For the soul:
· Strengthens intuition
· Cultivates calmness and stillness within
Different Types of Yoga
1.Vinyasa Yoga – Practiced on CLiC Retreats in the mornings
Vinyasa yoga is popular and is taught at most studios and gyms. “Vinyasa” means linking breath with movement. The postures are usually done in a flowing sequence, or "vinyasa flow" and the fluid movements can be memorized and done as a moving meditation.
2. Yin Yoga - Practiced on CLiC Retreats in the evenings
Yin yoga is a meditative practice that allows your body to become comfortable in a pose without doing too much work. It is also called Taoist yoga and focuses on lengthening the connective tissues within the body. It is meant to compliment Yang yoga, or muscle-forming yoga practices like Vinyasa. Yin yoga is a more passive form of yoga and allows the muscles to relax with gravity and rest. This type of yoga is commonly practiced with props like boulsters and blocks. Usually there is little to no music in the class.
3. Ashtanga Yoga
Ashtanga means “eight limbs” and encompasses a yogic lifestyle. Most people identify this type of yoga as traditional Indian yoga. Similar to Vinyasa yoga, the Ashtanga yoga postures synchronize breath with movement as you move through a series of postures. The series of postures are practiced the same way every time and consist of Sun Salutation A, Sun Salutation B, a standing sequence, and a closing sequence. The practice is usually performed without music, and sometimes in mysore style; without verbal instruction in silence.
4. Iyengar Yoga
Also based on the Eight Limbs of Yoga, Iyengar yoga is named after B.K.S. Iyengar, a famous yogi from India. The emphasis of this practice is alignment in the asanas using breath control through pranayama and the use of props: bolsters, blankets, straps and blocks. This style of yoga is usually taught without music and at a slower pace designed to assist students to get deeper into the postures.
4. Bikram Yoga
Bikram yoga was designed by Bikram Choudhury in the 1970s. This type of yoga consists of the same twenty-six yoga postures and two breathing exercises. It is ninety minutes long and done in a room that is 40 degrees Celsius (105 degrees Fahrenheit) with 40% humidity. There is no music during class.
5. Jivamukti Yoga
Jivamukti was created in 1984 by Sharon Gannon and David Life in New York City. Jivamukti translates to “liberated being.” This style incorporates Sanskrit chanting, Pranayama, and movement with a theme or lesson for each class.
6. Power Yoga
Power yoga is a more active approach to the traditional Hatha yoga poses. The Ashtanga yoga poses are performed more quickly and with added core exercises and upper body work. The sequences are not the same every time, and there is often upbeat music. Vinyasa yoga can also be Power yoga, depending on the gym or studio that is hosting the class.
7. Sivananda Yoga
Sivananda yoga was brought to the United States by Swami Vishnudevananda in 1957. This is a yoga system based on the five yogic principals: proper breathing, relaxation, diet, exercise, and positive thinking. The asana practice is usually twelve basic postures or variations of the Asanas, with Sun Salutations and Savasana. There is no music.
On the CLiC Retreat there will be twice daily yoga sessions: Vinyasa most mornings and Yin to unwind at the end of most days. During the retreat we will also include a novelty yoga class: Aqua yoga for a bit of fun in the hydrotherapy pool at the retreat venue, Floating Leaf Bali. Have a look at the other Activities on the CLiC Retreat. Our yoga instructor Sandra has over 600 hours of Yoga teacher training. Learn more about the CLiC Retreat Team.
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