Yoga has a wide variety of forms. Clodagh Mulveytakes a look at them and their benefits
YOGA IS renowned for many things - deep breathing, long stretches, peculiar postures and satisfying, relaxing results.
But there are almost as many forms of yoga to choose from as there are postures or "asanas".
From Hatha to Ashtanga and Raja to Laughter, the forms range in speed and approach, but are united in philosophy.
Literally meaning "union" in Sanskrit, the objective of yoga is to connect the mind, the body and the spirit.
So it is well placed to take centre stage at the Mind, Body, Spirit and Yoga festival at the RDS this weekend, for the second year running.
Tree pose, warrior pose, rock pose and child pose have become normal parlance for the many thousands of people estimated to be practising some form of this ancient Hindu spiritual discipline in Ireland today.
But with the arrival in the country of one of the most modern forms of yoga to emerge yet, it may be time to introduce "laughter pose" to the vernacular.
Conceived of just 13 years ago in India by cardiologist Dr Madan Kataria, "Laughter yoga" was brought to Ireland in 2003 by Mayo-based psychotherapist Mary Mitchell.
Kataria's research, which uncovered evidence of patients curing themselves of disease by laughing, led him to set up "laughter clubs" in Bombay which have since spread across the globe, with more than 5,000 clubs now operating worldwide.
A blend of yogic deep breathing, stretching, stimulated laughter exercises and cultivated child-like playfulness, Mary Mitchell says Laughter yoga is great exercise, giving the body an "internal workout", with one minute of laughter akin to 10 minutes on a rowing machine.
But it isn't just about the physical, she explains.
"When we are laughing, we are raising our spirits. We are bringing out the child within. Spirituality is about raising people's spirits; about bringing people together. Laughter yoga is a lighter form of spirituality, where we focus on fun and laughter," she says.
At the opposite end of the spectrum lies the Raja form of yoga, which is understood to be the oldest variety of the discipline, dating back 5,000 years.
Stemming from Hatha yoga, which is a system of slow movement, relaxation and focus on the breath, Raja yoga is a deeply spiritual practice, promoting a state of peace, love and compassion for oneself and others, using meditation as a tool for spiritual purification and self-understanding.
Dublin-based yoga teacher Nick Gent says the first lesson in Raja yoga is about identity. "The answer to the question 'who are you?' is that you are a being, a consciousness, a spirit, a soul," he explains.
"Meditation takes our experience from the outside world and allows us the space to integrate this and find our own inner peace," he says. "And in the current world economic crisis, this is very important."
Maureen Nightingale of Yoga Therapy Ireland - one of the main organisers of the yoga attractions at the upcoming festival - agrees that yoga practice can help centre the individual in times of adversity.
"Life for most people is very, very stressful at the moment due to the recession," she says. "Yoga taps into that stress and, with the stretching and breathing, enables you to find inner balance and deal with life a little better."
Co-founder of Yoga Therapy Ireland in 2000, Nightingale says the group trains yoga teachers to work with people who have specific needs, such as those with chronic spinal problems or breathing difficulties, in a therapeutic way.
Iyengar yoga also focuses on the physical, emphasising the development of strength, stamina, flexibility and balance, as well as concentration and meditation, through the use of props and aids such as belts and blocks.
This form pays attention to the detail and precise focus of the structural alignment of the body, and through the practice of a system of asanas, aims to bring the mind, body and spirit into balance.
Ashtanga is a dynamic form of yoga which works to strengthen and realign the body and to increase vitality by improving the functioning of all the body's systems, including cardiovascular, respiratory and digestive.
Although not a form of yoga in itself, the practice of "Living Somatics" is complementary to yoga and teaches people "how to access the healing potential of the body, through the practice of slow, mindful somatic movements", explains Somatics educator Brian Ingle.
An osteopath and yoga teacher also, Ingle says the word "somatics" comes from the Greek word "soma" meaning "body", and involves the perspective of treating the "living mind-body as one functional unit without separation".
Used to improve the function of the neuro-muscular system and to create more movement within the body, the practice cultivates awareness in movement, is interactive between somatic educator and client and is known for it success with pain relief.
Kundalini yoga is a physical and meditative form of practice which focuses on stimulating and releasing the life force or "prana" energy, believed to lie dormant in the body's chakras or energy centres.
The kundalini energy is released in the body through a series of "sets" of techniques including postures, controlled breathing, mantras and meditations, with a focus on the position of the spine and special consideration given to the endocrine system.
• The Mind, Body Spirit and Yoga festival at the RDS takes place this bank holiday weekend, October 25th to 27th, and includes more than 200 exhibits with 120 free lectures
Find a yoga to suit you
Yoga Therapy Ireland: for teacher training, contact Maureen Nightingale; see yogatherapyireland.com
Laughter yoga: classes, laughter parties or corporate team building, contact Mary Mitchell; see laughteryogaireland.org
Hatha, Ashtanga: evening classes at Dublin Yoga Studios; see yogadublin.com
Raja yoga: classes available in Carlow, Castlebar, Galway and Dublin, contact Nick Gent; see bkwsu.org.
Iyengar: Iyengar Yoga Centre, Phibsboro, Dublin; see yoga-ireland.com/margaret
Living Somatics: professional teacher training beginning October 31st, contact Brian Ingle; see livingsomatics.com
Kundalini yoga: evening classes at Dublin Yoga Studios, contact Eithne Brooks; see yogadublin.com