More Yoga Terms Defined from That's Fit:
Ashtana Yoga
Hatha Yoga
Kundalini Yoga
Power Yoga
Prenatal Yoga

Kundalini Yoga is a spiritual and physical practice closely associated with Hatha yoga that is designed to facilitate spiritual enlightenment. More than just a means to fitness, Kundalini yoga is based on the fundamental principle of awakening the seven chakras through breathing, chanting and meditation. The Kundalini is an untapped source of energy thought to sit at the base of your spine like a coiled snake, and it's through the yoga practice that this energy is drawn up. Full enlightenment is thought to be achieved when the energy reaches the Crown Chakra. Kundalini yoga is relatively new to Western society -- it was introduced to North America in 1969 by the 3HO (Healthy, Happy, Holy Organization.)

A Kundalini yoga session involves a series (called kriya) of postures (called asanas,) each done with an emphasis on the breathing process. Sessions also involve chanted mantras and meditation. Though it's a highly spiritual form of yoga, don't expect your Kundalini yoga session to be easy -- the practice is very physically intense.

Want to learn more? Discover other types of yoga.

Felicity Huffman is no stranger to fitness. She's a fan of running and has participated in triathlons. But Huffman has a new fitness love -- she's getting addicted to Bikram yoga. The 45-year-old Desperate Housewives' star says "As you get older, you get stiffer. Doing yoga has shown me that flexibility is as important as strength."

Bikram yoga is nicknamed hot yoga and for good reason. When following along with Bikram's series of 26 poses, you'll be doing so in a room set to 105 degrees Fahrenheit (some classes may not set it quite so high). The idea is that your body is more flexible in heat, and the hot atmosphere warms your muscles more quickly. In addition, it's said to reduce the risk of injury, promote sweating, and release toxins from the body.

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So, most of the time, yoga is a fairly serious practice. There's a lot of concentration and meditation involved -- you breath, you focus, you get more in tune with your body -- and it's wonderful.

However, laughter is good for your body, too, and in honor of Mike Meyer's new flick, The Love Guru, I present to you Mr. Meyers' newest character The Guru Pitka. He has a series of yoga poses that are not for the faint of heart and definitely not for those without a wicked sense of humor.

It's kind of what you'd expect if you were to do a private yoga class with the man behind Austin Powers and Shrek -- asanas like Gassy Cobra and Yank My Doodle, It's a Dandy, and the faces to go with them. Are you going to get a great yoga workout from it? No way. But, you're pretty much guaranteed to laugh, and that's worth something, too.

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Yoga is well-known for the flexibility it promotes, but the meditative and relaxation qualities are also beneficial. If the twists and turns of traditional yoga methods don't appeal to you, you could try yoga nidra -- a style that focuses solely on the meditative side.

Also known as yogic sleep, yoga nidra involves lying very still and listening to meditative instructions. Fans of yoga nidra report better stress management and sounder sleep. So what exactly does it involve? Yoga nidra classes are usually 20-45 minutes long. Participants lie comfortably on their back and listen to a series of instructions including focusing on a goal, and focusing on awareness of each part of the body. Participants are also encouraged to think of a situation or emotion that is difficult and then think of its opposite.

While yoga nidra obviously doesn't have the physical benefits of more traditional yoga, the mind-body connection and stress-relieving aspects can be so beneficial for the body and spirit.

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Most yogis have a pretty good knowledge of the Sankrit words for their favourite poses. That's because most yoga teachers (a least I've found) use both the original and western names of the poses. It's a good lesson for people like myself who don't know Sanskrit or much about the history of yoga -- now that I've been going regularly, I know that Adho Mukha Svanasana means downward dog, Tadasana means mountain post and Utthita Trikonasana means extended triangle pose.

Fitsugar has together a short tutorial on Sanskrit in yoga ... you probably won't need to worry about memorizing the names of poses unless you're becoming a teacher, but it can't hurt, right?

What's your favourite Asana?

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Morning hours aren't my best friend. When the sun begins to rise, I slither as far under my quilts and sheets as humanly possible, like an earthworm working its way deep underground. I'm not a morning person. What can I say?

However, I've found it's usually the best time to get in a good workout. As the day goes on I've been known to toss aside a much needed session at the gym or park for any reason but the right reason. Typically, I'm worn out by evening and convinced that excercising my body will only prove punishing and keep me up way past my preferred bedtime. As you can see, I'm not the most disciplined but I'm always looking to try new methods to ensure I get some type of physical workout on a consistent basis.

This Yoga in Bed DVD sounds like a good fit for a person like me, and can be done in the morning to get your day going or at night. The nighttime workout is said to help you sleep better and fall asleep faster. The greatest part about having a DVD like this on hand is you never have to get out of your pajamas and all 20 asanas can be done in the comfort of your bed. Created by Edward Vilga, the DVD can be purchased at Amazon.com for $9.99, which shouldn't put a big dent in anyone's pocket. Now I just need to move the TV into the bedroom...

via Cool Hunting

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