Yoga From 1D vekananda spoke before the Parliament of Religions there about the ultimate unity of everything. (Yoga itself is not a religion, but is a practice influenced by Hindu, Vedic and Buddhist traditions.) People in Western society like to know exactly what they're benefiting when they do yoga, Romaine said. They ask questions like "Why do I need to stand on my head?" and "Why do I need to hold my breath?" But they are less encouraged to be aware of what is happening inside their own bodies. Breathing is emphasized so much in yoga because it is a direct link between the body and the mind, Romaine said. You can ignore your breathing and still do it automatically or you can "enhance ... encourage ... invite your breath to become the place where your awareness rests." "Then you can see where there is tension in the body -and tension in the mind," she said. The types of yoga Yoga embraces a diverse system of practices: Hatha, anusara, ashtanga, Iyengar, Bikram, power yoga and kundalini yoga are just a few of the more popular styles. All are said to rejuvenate the body and emphasize a union of mind, body and spirit. Romaine recommends that anyone who is seeking a yoga instructor ask the teachers what style of yoga they teach, whether they have their own particular practice and how many people will be in the class. "The best thing about yoga is that you can start it at any age and any condition," she said. "It's about self-care. It's not a competition. At the end of the year, there's no yoga final." As in the rest of the country, hatha yoga is the most popular form of yoga taught in Ogden - although hatha often gets slightly different interpretations. The goal of yoga is a state of equilibrium and peace, so people don't tend to disagree too vigorously about definitions. "All the ones with exercise, postures are hatha yoga," said Jo Canfield, owner of Yoga Jo's Studio in Ogden. Canfield opened her studio six months ago, but she has been teaching yoga classes locally for two years. She teaches what she describes as an "eclectic type of hatha yoga" to about 80 students. "People who choose ashtanga yoga tend to be very athletic, very goal-oriented," she said. "People who choose anusara tend to be more about the health benefits. People who choose Bikram are looking more for a form of exercise. Iyengar yoga is about protecting the body, working with proper alignment and using the postures as a form of meditation." The important thing is not to be intimidated by yoga, Canfield said. There is a style of yoga to fit each individual. "Most Westerners come to yoga as a form of exercise, but that's just one benefit," she said. "The actual posture is what people associate with yoga, even though that's not what it's all about: Yoga is about enlightenment. It's about creating a path to reach God." 19 More on hatha John Wilson, a yoga instructor at the Fitlife Center in Layton, describes hatha yoga as more about balance, flexibility and strength. "Other forms of yoga are more mystical and are more about metaphysical things like chakras," he said. "Hatha yoga is more of a form people can see as more of a form of exercise." Most people who come to the Fitlife Center for yoga classes are there to relieve stress, he said, and it's usually the stress that comes from trying to balance work and family life. "Right now, (yoga) is mostly popular with people who have lived outside Utah," Wilson said. "Most of my class came from outside Utah or they've lived outside Utah. It's just starting to catch on with people who have lived here all their lives." Like other forms of yoga, hatha yoga emphasizes breathing. When you take deep breaths, it actuates that part of the nervous system involved in resting and digesting, Wilson said. That allows the body to heal itself and better digest food, which in turn allows the body to do the functions that are necessary for resting and healing. "The benefits are an increased balance of the body," Wilson said. About kundalini yoga In spite of the prevalence of hatha yoga, kundalini yoga has been available in Ogden since 1976. Satmandir Khalsa, an Ogden man who is often known as "The Kundalini Guy," presently teaches yoga classes through the Eccles Community Art Center. Khalsa estimates he's taught kundalini yoga in Ogden to 100 to 150 people per year since 1990. Although hatha yoga has always been more popular in the United States, Khalsa believes kundalini yoga is more energizing than straight hatha yoga. "(Kundalini yoga) has more movement than most yoga, more emphasis on breathing," Khalsa said. "It's taught in sequences: One sequence might be to release energy along the spine, another sequence might be a series of exercises in breathing." Kundalini yoga focuses on moving energy through what Khalsa calls the "subtle nervous system." Yoga is becoming more popular in Utah and elsewhere because people are trying to find a way to relax and, at the same time, find energy to deal with changes, Khalsa said. Kundalini yoga is both a centering and energizing experience. "It's my opinion you get more benefits faster," he said. Jill Morrin (center) holds a position during open yoga class. PETER CHUDLEIGH Standard-Examiner