"Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self." - The Bhagavad Gita
From Vinyasa to Katonah: Yoga Styles offered at Silver Island Yoga and their benefits
Yoga, with its roots steeped in ancient wisdom, has evolved into a vast spectrum of styles over centuries, each offering its unique benefits for mind, body, and spirit. By combining elements from various forms of yoga, you can create a holistic practice that caters to your specific needs and preferences. Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or a curious beginner, understanding these different forms can help you find the style that resonates best with your needs and aspirations.
We will guide you to discovering the unique benefits of each Yoga style offered at Silver Island Yoga, their characteristics and the advantages and benefits of merging these forms of yoga into one practice and the benefits that this integrated approach can bring to your overall well-being.
1. Vinyasa Yoga: Energising your practice
Vinyasa Yoga, often described as "flow yoga," is a dynamic practice that links breath to movement in a sequence of postures. It promotes strength, flexibility, and balance while fostering mindfulness and breath awareness. By incorporating Vinyasa Yoga into your practice, you can add an energising and cardiovascular element that helps build strength and stamina. The creative sequencing found in Vinyasa Yoga keeps your practice fresh and engaging, allowing you to explore new variations and combinations of poses. Vinyasa is offered by Evi Bouzaki, Caroline Graham Wood, Lara Roux, Liz Lark, Abby Patterson and Fela Adebiyi
2. Slow Vinyasa Flow: Slow and Mindful Awareness
Slow Vinyasa Flow is a gentler version of Vinyasa Yoga. It allows more time to explore each pose, making it great for beginners or those looking to deepen their practice through mindful movement. Slow Vinyasa Flow & Flow Mindful Yoga is offered by Phoebe Kiddo, and Michelle Grant
3. Therapeutic Alignment Vinyasa: Gravitational Healing Force
Therapeutic Alignment Vinyasa (TAV) is a system based on spinal awareness and ground control using gravity as a healing force. TAV works on awaking the postural muscles and actively correcting mechanical problems in the body restoring balance and mobility within the spine. Therapeutic Alignment Vinyasa (TAV)is offered by Fela Adebiyi.
4. Hatha Yoga: Building a Strong Foundation
Hatha Yoga is a traditional form that focuses on basic postures and breathing techniques. It is excellent for beginners and those seeking a calming practice to reduce stress and enhance mental clarity. Incorporating Hatha Yoga into your practice provides a solid foundation in the fundamentals of yoga. By focusing on essential poses and alignment principles, Hatha Yoga can help you establish a strong base for further exploration of other yoga styles. Integrating Hatha Yoga into your routine also offers the benefits of improved flexibility, and as mentioned before, reduced stress and enhanced mental clarity. Hatha Yoga is offered by Evi Bouzaki, Jim Harrington, Lisa Wright, Brenda Rock and Michelle Grant
4. Restorative Yoga: Rejuvenate Mind, Body, Spirit
Restorative Yoga emphasises relaxation and healing. Through supported poses held for longer periods, it promotes deep relaxation, stress relief, and a greater sense of well-being. Incorporating Restorative Yoga into your practice provides you with a much needed break from our daily lives, by allowing us to slow down, quieting the mind, stretch our bodies, release tension, and cultivate inner peace. Restorative Yoga is offered by Caroline Graham Wood, Marley Vigdorth, Liz Lark and Brenda Rock offers a week dedicated to Restorative Yoga
5. Iyengar Yoga: Cultivating Precision and Alignment:
Iyengar Yoga is renowned for its focus on precision and alignment. Using props for support, it is ideal for those wanting to deepen their understanding of postures and prevent injuries. By incorporating Iyengar Yoga principles into your practice, you can improve your posture, body awareness, and overall alignment. This attention to detail can help prevent injuries and enhance the therapeutic benefits of your yoga practice. Elements of Iyengar Yoga are offered by Lara Roux and Fela Adebiyi
6. Forrest Yoga: Evoking Transformation
Forrest Yoga, created by Ana Forrest, emphasises healing and addressing modern-day physical and emotional ailments. It combines elements of Hatha and Vinyasa and involves deep breathing, strength-building, and long-held poses. By incorporating Forrest Yoga principles into your practice, you can expect to build your physical strength, through core and abdominal work, release emotional tension and connect more holistically to your spiritual self. Elements of Forrest Yoga are offered by Lara Roux and Marley Vigdorth
7. Yoga Nidra: Promoting Deep Relaxation
Often referred to as "yogic sleep," Yoga Nidra is a powerful form of guided meditation practised lying down, so anyone can do it! It promotes deep relaxation and is excellent for stress reduction and mental clarity. By incorporating Yoga Yoga techniques into your practice, you learn a simple body scan technique and breath awareness, allowing you to slow down, breathe and clam the nervous system. It also creates an opportunity for you to explore what you are needing in the moment and what you are wanting to release. Yoga Nidra is offered by Caroline Graham Wood, Marley Vigdorth, and Brenda Rock
9. Kundalini Yoga: Awakening Inner Potential
Kundalini Yoga combines physical postures, breathing exercises, meditation, and chanting. It aims to awaken the dormant Kundalini energy at the base of the spine, promoting self-awareness and spiritual growth. By incorporating Kundalini Yoga techniques into your practice, you can enhance your emotional and mental well-being, unlock creative potential, and experience a deeper connection to your inner self.
Kundalini is offered by Amanbir & Patwant Kaur
10. ISHTA Yoga: Personalising Your Practice
ISHTA (Integrated Science of Hatha, Tantra, and Ayurveda) focuses on creating a personalised practice that suits individual needs. It combines elements of various styles, making it versatile and adaptive. By incorporating the principles of ISHTA Yoga into your practice, you can create a truly personalised and balanced routine that caters to your unique physical, mental, and spiritual needs. ISHTA Yoga encourages you to explore different techniques and styles, giving you the freedom to adapt your practice as you evolve and grow. The integration of Ayurvedic principles in ISHTA Yoga helps you understand your individual constitution and how to harmonise your practice with your natural tendencies. This awareness can lead to a more effective and enjoyable yoga experience, as well as promote overall well-being. ISHTA Mala Yoga is offered by Lisa Wright.
11. Yin Yoga: Balancing Energy and Flexibility
Yin Yoga involves passive postures held for longer periods. It targets the deeper connective tissues and joints, promoting flexibility and a deeper sense of relaxation. By integrating Yin Yoga into your routine, you can balance the more active and dynamic elements of other yoga styles with a calming, restorative practice. This combination helps promote flexibility, reduce stress, and foster a deeper mind-body connection. Yin Yoga is included in the following teacher retreat offering; Caroline Graham, Michelle Grant & Abby Patterson
12. Ashtanga Yoga: Embracing Structure and Discipline
Ashtanga Yoga is a rigorous and structured practice involving a specific sequence of postures. It builds strength, flexibility, and endurance, making it great for those seeking a challenging practice. By integrating elements of Ashtanga Yoga into your practice, you can develop greater discipline, commitment, and focus. The progressive nature of Ashtanga Yoga also encourages continuous growth and improvement in your practice. Elements of Ashtanga Yoga is infused into the follwoing teachers retreat offerings; Fela Adebiyi & Jim Harrington
13. Budokon Yoga: Improve Mobility and Build Strength
Budokon Yoga is a fusion of yoga, martial arts, and animal locomotion / movements. It focuses on controlled movements and transitions, promoting strength, agility, and mindfulness. By integrating elements of Budokon yoga into your practice, it offers a full body workout and rebalances the strength between our upper and lower bodies. Elements of Budokon Yoga is infused into Jim Harringtons retreat offering
14. Katonah Yoga: Taoist Theory and Sacred Geometry
Developed by Nevine Michaan, Katonah Yoga combines Hatha Yoga with Taoist principles and geometry. The three principles of Katonah Yoga are repetition, pattern and Polarity. It aims to help practitioners find balance and stability, both physically and metaphorically. By integrating elements of Katonah yoga into your practice, it offers the potential for new insights through self-awareness when holding poses for longer periods of time, and the repetition of patterns. Elements of Katonah yoga is Infused into Michelle Grant's retreat offering
Something for everyone's yoga needs:
The diversity of yoga styles we offer, and many of our teachers are trained in many of the styles so offer a more holistic practice, ensures that there is a form of practice to suit everyone, regardless of age, fitness level, or personal goals. Whether you seek physical fitness, mental clarity, emotional healing, or spiritual growth, there is a yoga style that can guide you on your journey. Combining elements from various yoga styles creates a comprehensive and balanced practice that caters to your unique needs and goals.
This integrated approach that our teachers offer, allows you to experience the best of what each yoga style has to offer, fostering physical, mental, and spiritual growth. By exploring the diverse range of yoga practices and weaving them together, you can create a personalised and holistic routine that supports your well-being on all levels.
Embrace the journey of self-discovery that comes with the practice of yoga, and enjoy the countless benefits it offers for your mind, body, and spirit. As you delve deeper into the world of yoga, allow yourself to be open to the wisdom and richness that each style brings, and find the perfect blend that resonates with your personal path.
Here is a link to our teachers profiles so you can read more about their style and what they will be offering on retreat. We have a retreat calendar where you can read about each of our teachers dynamic offerings.
