through poses, or asanas, with the intent to elongate the spine and quiet the mind. Hatha yoga is recognized as a stress- reducing practice that also improves physical health.
Great for: students that are new to yoga and want to create a strong foundation for their practice. It is also beneficial to those that want to decrease stress while improving core strength, balance and flexibility. Hatha is suited for all levels.
Vinyasa Also referred to as flow yoga, Vinyasa classes connect each pose to the next in a natural, smooth transition. It is a faster-paced practice, with many sun salutations (a series of poses that flow from mountain, standing, to downward- facing-dog), where the breath is con- nected to each movement. These classes are designed to increase the heart rate, build core, leg and arm strength and elongate muscles and the spine. Heated class settings are common to create a purifying sweat that releases toxins and renews the skin.
Great for: experienced and athletic students that want a fast-paced class of hard work and sweat. This challenging class is recommended for active students, especially when practiced in a heated environment.
Yin Developed by the Chinese, this practice was built around preserving and releas- ing tight connective tissues. Yin uses passive poses that are held from five to seven minutes each. Bolsters, blankets, blocks and straps are used to make each pose comfortable and beneficial. This class provides relaxation and deep tissue stretching for ligaments and tendons.
Great for: students with mobility issues, beginners, those recovering from an injury and athletes. This practice helps increase flexibility and is good for run- ners with tight muscles in need of repair, or those that sit for prolonged periods.
Amy Vetter is a registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and owner of Drishtiq Yoga, in Mason. For more information, visit
DrishtiqYoga.com. See ad, page 18.
yogabriefs
Hot Yoga Versus Ashtanga Yoga A
shtanga yoga and hot yoga both create heat to help detoxify the body, but they
do it in different ways. With the hot yoga experience, the room is heated to around 105 degrees while an individual performs a sequence of postures. Ashtanga yoga takes place in a comfortably heated room of around 80 degrees and focuses on a continuous flow of postures while maintaining breath and core control. Both have similar benefits and help eliminate toxins from the inside out, so the choice simply comes down to individual pref-
erences. Ashtanga can be a powerful practice empowering the body to create heat, as opposed to a hot yoga practice that depends on an outside source for heat.
Yoga Ah! offers Ashtanga yoga classes for beginners. For more information, visit
YogaAhStudio.com. See ad, page 18.
Laughter Yoga Improves Wellness I
n 1995, Dr. Madan Kataria, a Indian physician, developed Laughter Yoga,
a combination of laughter exercises and yoga breathing. He discovered that the body cannot differentiate between fake and real laughter, and noted that laugh- ter exercises could produce the same benefits as genuine laughter. Andrew Weil, M.D., an expert in alternative medicine, believes Laughter Yoga is a “powerful intervention” against illness. Clinical research shows that Laughter Yoga reduces the levels of the stress hor-
mone cortisol. It boosts the immune system, reduces blood pressure, alleviates mild depression and anxiety, oxygenates the blood and improves mood. Laughter Yoga is used in businesses, schools and organizations to improve well-
ness, communication, performance, team building, productivity and as a mind-body exercise to counteract the negative effects of stress.
For more information, visit
JoyfulHealingLaughter.com. See ad, page 20.
1 month unlimited yoga pass for just $49* Mention the Natural Awakenings ad and receive 25% off your 2nd month. *New customers only.
Group and Private Yoga Instruction Ashtanga • Vinyasa • Power Yoga • Hatha • Yin Yoga • Yoga for 50+ • Flying Yoga
Traditional Thai Yoga Therapy 346 Ludlow Ave, Cincinnati
Registered Yoga School
513-961-9642
yogagarage.com
natural awakenings September 2013 17
Photo © lululemon athletica/flickr
Photo © teakwood/flickr
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