Yoga:-

There are many types of yoga and these fall basically into two types, the divisions of classical yoga techniques and the many modern styles of yoga so these are dealt with below under these sub headings

Classical Yoga Techniques
These all date back almost to the origins of yoga, they allow people to follow the type of yoga that is best suited to their temperament and life styles. All of these paths alone can lead the participant to enlightenment but in practice it is normal for there to be considerable overlap and parts of each discipline can be brought into your favoured path.

Bhakti Yoga
This is the yoga of devotion, worship and focused love. Traditionally the focus could be on a deity or on ones personal Guru. Westerners who have strong religious backgrounds would feel comfortable with this branch of Yoga as it would fit in with worship in whatever form.

Hatha Yoga
This is the form of yoga most familiar in the west, it is the main stay of the majority of yoga classes in the UK. The word Hatha is made up of "ha" meaning Sun and "tha" meaning Moon representing the positive and negative energy flows in the body. Hatha yoga regulates and balances these energy flows. Hatha Yoga involves the physical posture work, the breath control (Pranayam) and prepares the body for meditation.

Jnana Yoga
This is the path of spiritual knowledge and wisdom and would suit someone who had an intellectual temperament.

Karma Yoga
Karma Yoga is the path of selfless service, of working or performing actions without seeking any reward. Most yoga ashrams have periods of "Karma Yoga" when those staying at the ashram can help with daily tasks.

Kundalini Yoga
Kundalini yoga aims to awaken the potential energies at the base of the spine (Symbolised as a coiled snake) and direct this energy upwards through the spine and the Chakras thus bringing about increasing degrees of enlightenment. When the energy reaches the head (Sahasrara Chakra) then intuitive enlightenment is triggered.

Mantra Yoga
Mantra Yoga involves the practice of chanting words or phrases repeatedly either aloud or internally thus influencing the consciousness. The rhythmic repetition of mantras is called Japa.

Raja Yoga
Raja yoga means Royal yoga and is associated with the yoga of Patanjali who promulgated the Yoga Sutras, here he lists the eightfold path or the eight limbs of yoga. These are :-
Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi.
Yama (Abstentions) are:-
Non Violence, Truthfulness, Non Stealing, Purity, Avoidance of Greed.
Niyama (Observances) are :-
Cleanliness, Contentment, Austerity, Study or Wisdom, Devotion to the Divine.
Asana (Postures):-
The physical posture work familiar in most yoga classes.
Pranayama (Breath Control):-
Control of breath and direction of Prana (Life Force Energy) within the body.
Pratyahara (sense withdrawal):-
Detaching the mind from the 5 senses
Dharana (Concentration):-
Holding the mind on a particular object or thought, Single pointed awareness.
Dhyana (Meditation):-
Prolonged concentration to the point where it becomes effortless.
Samadhi Contemplation, Union, Bliss:-
This has to be experienced to be understood, it is beyond words.

Tantric Yoga
Tantric Yoga breaks into two distinct variations the Left hand and Right hand paths.
The Left hand path is the Tantra that most people have heard about, it is a yoga found mainly in Northern India and Tibet and involves the union of male and female either actually or in the imagination.
The Right hand path is epitomised by the Bihar Yoga and Mandala Ashram below and encourages Fidelity and Celibacy. Here the emphasis is on Kriya Yoga which comes under the general heading of Tantra. see below.

Kriya Yoga
Kriya Yoga is a very systemised form of yoga from the Tantras, There are about 70 Kriyas or actions of which only about 20 are in common usage. Kriya yoga increases concentration and leads to meditation and ultimately to enlightenment but this is done more through awareness than pure concentration. Again this system is taught at Mandala Ashram. (See Below)

Yantra Yoga
Similar to Mantra yoga but involving sight and form. Yantras are colourful geometric mandalas or designs which are used for concentration ether on the Mandala itself or during the preparation of the Mandala.

Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga
A classical form of ancient origin that emphasizes the eight limbs of yoga as suggested by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras. It develops great breath awareness and uses muscular 'locks' known as bandhas. These used together generate a lot of heat. It is this heat that assists in attaining some of the more strenuous or challenging stages of the practice. Surya Namaskar is used as a preparation, then the series progresses through standing, seated, back-bending and inverted poses. These classical asanas gradually come together in an extended flowing sequence known as the primary series. The benefits permeate the physical and non-physical body at every level. Sessions are always followed by savasana, that most important relaxation pose.

Modern Styles of Yoga

Heart Yoga
Heart Yoga (Formally Yoga of the Heart) takes the classical asanas together with the philosophy and spiritual aspects of yoga and teaches them in a way that can transform the body, mind and emotions - touching the heart of our being.
Viniyoga
Viniyoga involves all aspects of yoga with posture work building towards particular posture and then returning towards stillness. It involves chanting, breathe control and meditation practices.

Benefits of Yoga
More importantly, yoga is extremely effective in:
Increasing Flexibility – yoga has positions that act upon the various joints of the body including those joints that are never really on the ‘radar screen’ let alone exercised
Increasing lubrication of the joints, ligaments and tendons – likewise, the well-researched yoga positions exercise the different tendons and ligaments of the body.
Surprisingly it has been found that the body which may have been quite rigid starts experiencing a remarkable flexibility in even those parts which have not been consciously work upon. Why? It is here that the remarkable research behind yoga positions proves its mettle. Seemingly unrelated “non strenuous” yoga positions act upon certain parts of the body in an interrelated manner. When done together, they work in harmony to create a situation where flexibility is attained relatively easily
Massaging of ALL Organs of the Body – Yoga is perhaps the only form of activity which massages all the internal glands and organs of the body in a thorough manner, including those – such as the prostate - that hardly get externally stimulated during our entire lifetime. Yoga acts in a wholesome manner on the various body parts. This stimulation and massage of the organs in turn benefits us by keeping away disease and providing a forewarning at the first possible instance of a likely onset of disease or disorder.
Complete Detoxification – By gently stretching muscles and joints as well as massaging the various organs, yoga ensures the optimum blood supply to various parts of the body. This helps in the flushing out of toxins from every nook and cranny as well as providing nourishment up to the last point. This leads to benefits such as delayed ageing, energy and a remarkable zest for life.
Excellent toning of the muscles – Muscles that have become flaccid, weak or slothy are stimulated repeatedly to shed excess flab and flaccidity.
Yoga has simple and effective body movements that strengthen one's back, firm the stomach, and redistribute body weight. Yoga exercises stretch and tone the body muscles. They increase endurance and improve flexibility.
Yoga Asanas or positions are the best among all exercises for toning muscles, lubricating joints and massaging the body. Yoga postures bring physical as well as mental stability, health and vigor. These Asanas were developed thousands of years ago and have evolved over centuries. They work wonders in keeping the body healthy and the mind peaceful. Asanas  exercise the nerves, glands, ligaments, and muscles. In other words, yoga exercises are the most comprehensive method of self care
Although asanas are very powerful, the effect becomes dramatic when they are done the right way. The mind must be in harmony with the body movements. For this it is essential to equip yourself with the other tools of Integral Yoga.
Yoga / Massage Packages

• Personalised Yoga Program

• This is an 2 hour session packed with Yoga for you, nutritional information for you and how Yoga can help you to live your best of life and enjoy each moment.
• Price  € 100.00

• Prenatal / Postnatal Yoga

• This is an 2 hour session packed with Yoga for you, nutritional information for you and how Yoga can help you to live your best of life and enjoy each moment.
• Price  € 100.00