Reprinted from the Health District's quarterly publication mailed to district residents (Winter 2009)
TOPIC: Awakening Your Body
Experience the benefits of yoga
by aubrey hoover

If you have a hard time picturing yourself twisted like a pretzel chanting, “Om,” don’t rule out yoga just yet. With so many different styles of yoga out there, you’re bound to find one that allows you to experience its benefits in a comfortable, positive way.

Yoga can be for whatever you want it to be — flexibility, strength, meditation, restoration, breath control, physical challenge or relaxation. The trick is to be willing to try a few different classes to find the style that’s right for you.

The Fort Collins area is booming with yoga studios, all offering a different perspective on the practice. Most of them offer a free day or week to try them out, allowing you to experience a variety of styles and what each has to offer. Because so many choices can be overwhelming, it’s important to not only understand what distinguishes each style from the next but also what you are hoping to get out of it.

The difference between each style of yoga lies in the emphasis. For instance, the emphasis in Kundalini yoga is breath control, whereas Bikram yoga is practiced in a 95- to 105-degree room to encourage sweating as a way of cleansing.

Hatha yoga refers to a more gentle practice, in which poses are held for a period of time, whereas Vinyasa and Ashtanga are more fast-paced, flow-like practices. And Iyengar focuses on body alignment.

If you’re just starting out or looking for a gentle, restorative experience, seek out classes titled “Restorative,” “Yin” or “Hatha” yoga. For a more intermediate practice, consider Iyengar or Kundalini. For something more challenging, try Vinyasa, Ashtanga or Bikram.

If you’ve been wondering about yoga, it’s definitely worth trying. Although each style is different, they all have physical benefits and, for some, a meditative aspect.

Some yoga styles are not for everyone, so ask your doctor if you have any concerns. If a class isn’t what you expected, try a different studio or a different instructor.

Yoga has withstood the test of time. So, who knows, it might be right for you, too.
 

 
Where to practice yoga

Become Fit Spinning and Sports Yoga
www.becomefitfc.com, 482-3868
Set to high-energy music, sports yoga focuses on strength training, balance and flexibility.

Bikram Yoga
www.bikramyogafc.com, 472-5700
Studio at 105º F, 26 set poses.

Breathe Yoga
www.gotyoga.com, 223-9642
Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Yin, Vida (all hot or "normal"); partner yoga.

CorePower Yoga
www.corepoweryoga.com, 224-4615
Vinyasa style, focusing on core strength, balance and flow; hot power fusion, yoga sculpt and yoga-Pilates combination.

Fort Collins Parks and Recreation
www.fcgov.com/recreator, 221-6655
Beginning yoga, adaptive yoga, yoga routine, "buff" yoga.

Old Town Yoga
www.oldtownyoga.com, 222-2777
The original studio in Fort Collins, all types and all levels.

Treetop Studio
www.treetopstudioinfo.com, 484-0828
Hatha, Vinyasa; classes for men, women, parents with children, teens.

History of yoga

The classical techniques of yoga date back more than 5,000 years, originating on the Indian subcontinent of Asia. Yoga is believed to predate Hinduism, with which it is often associated.

In ancient times, the desire for greater personal freedom, health and long life, along with heightened self-understanding, gave birth to this system of physical and mental exercise that has since spread throughout the world. The word yoga means “to join or yoke together,” blending body and mind in a single experience.