Church Yoga
Posted by terrepruitt on June 4, 2015
There are so many different types of yoga, it is out of my range to know them all or to even have HEARD of them all. There are “ancient” types of yoga and types that have been around for a very long time, then there are new ones. There are some that have popped up rather recently. I believe many ancient types of yoga have been morphed into different types of yoga. Then once you become aware of a type of yoga it can still be different from studio to studio and teacher to teacher. I recently became aware of a type of yoga I had never heard of. I read the description and I thought, “Ok, I’ll give it a try.” Because I have to teach throughout the week, I have to be attentive to my energy levels. I have no qualms about attending a class and, if it is more than I want to do at that time, not doing it at the level that is being instructed. So if it was more strenuous than I wanted I was planning on just doing it gently. But the description sounded like exactly what I wanted. So, I went to this class I had never heard of and I am not sure if the class was a little different because it was a holiday or what, but there was a lot of talking. It was Kriya Yoga.
Kriya Yoga – Low/Moderate
Kriya Yoga highlights the relationship between the breath and the mind.
Breath influences mind and vice versa. Breath control is self-control.
Techniques include preparing the body with stretching and bending
exercises, practicing meditation, and incorporating breath
The description of Kriya Yoga that I read on Wiki, had me thinking that it was the type of yoga where participants would be experiencing two of the eight limbs of yoga; asana and pranayama. But, the class focus or subject seemed more to throw us into experiencing about six of the limbs. It was memorial day, and I had stopped looking at Facebook before class because I wanted to go to yoga and have a relaxing time of breathing, stretching, and bending. I was avoiding all the war stories until after class, but I felt jolted by the homily. It was like yoga and church rolled into one.
When I got home I discovered there are some descriptions online that describe Kriya yoga as the “spiritual yoga”. That could explain why I felt as if I was in church.
The class is normally an hour, but this class was an hour and a half, so I don’t know if the extra time was used for talking or if the talking is part of the class. I have not been in regular attendance in classes where talking and thinking about deep subjects are involved. It was very interesting. It was not the type of yoga I had been hoping for, I think it was a bit different than the description. I am not sure I will have the opportunity to get back to it because of scheduling conflicts and the location. But we will see. As I said, I think the regular class might be different, but I don’t know. I wouldn’t mind going back to see. The next time I will be a bit more prepared and not have the idea in my head that I will just be able to relax and focus on the poses.
I am planning on trying more types of yoga!
Have you ever heard of Kriya yoga? What types of yoga have you heard of?
Terre Pruitt's Blog 
Carol Hamilton said
Yes, I have practiced Kriya yoga, as well as Ashtanga and Kundilini
LikeLike
terrepruitt said
Do you have a preference or do you like to do different types depending on the need/mood?
LikeLike
Estela said
Yes, I have practiced Hatha Yoga. Just last week I heard of Shakti Naam and Naam Yoga (could be the same one). This yoga seems quite interesting. It has a lot of arm and hand movements while either listening to mantras or saying the mantras.
I would like to try this yoga and Kriya because I have not tried either one.
LikeLike
terrepruitt said
Hello,
Thanks for reading a posting. Hatha Yoga is a big umbrella so I think of lot of the types of yoga out there are under it. I love to hear that you have practiced it! I have not heard of the two types of yoga you have mentioned. There are so many. I have not attended a yoga class where there is chanting or mantras. I want to get back to a Kriya class, but I have not yet been able to work it into my schedule.
Hope to see you soon!
LikeLike