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Common Poses In Bikram And Hatha Yoga

Hatha Yoga: Hatha yoga is a form of yoga that was introduced in the fifteenth century by Yogi Swatmarama. This is one of the most basic types of yoga. The word Hatha is an amalgam of the Sanskrit words for the sun and moon. Thus, Hatha yoga aims to find a balance between the body and the mind. This is a gentle form of yoga and is an excellent method to introduce beginners to the magic of yoga.

Bikram Yoga: Bikram yoga is a more recent phenomenon in the world of yoga. This new form of yoga was developed Bikram Choudhary. In addition to fast paced exercises, Bikram yoga is performed in a heated room to maximize the release of toxins from the body through sweat.

Are there any similarities between Hatha yoga and Bikram yoga? Most of the modern yoga techniques that are popular around the world have developed from Hatha yoga. Even Bikram yoga is merely a faster and slightly different way of performing Hatha yoga techniques. As far as the common poses go, there are many yoga poses that are common to both Hatha yoga and Bikram yoga. What differs is the manner in which these poses are executed, the pace at which they are performed, the breathing techniques, and the environment in which these poses are done.

Some of the poses and yoga techniques that are common to both Bikram yoga and Hatha yoga include:

• Utkata Asana or the Awkward Pose
• Garuda Asana or the Eagle Pose
• Trikona Asana or the Triangle Pose
• Tada Asana or the Mountain Pose
• Shava Asana or the Corpse Pose
• Pavanamukta Asana or the Wind Releasing Pose
• Bhujanga Asana or the Cobra Pose
• Salabha Asana or the Locust Pose
• Dhanura Asana or the Bow Pose
• Ustra Asana or the Camel Pose
• Ardha Matsyendra Asana or the Half Spinal Twist
• Pranayama breathing techniques such as Kapalbhati.

Other poses that are used in Bikram yoga are also derived from Hatha yoga poses. The only difference is that these poses have been slightly tweaked or altered to suit the fast-paced, energetic style of Bikram yoga. Some of these modified poses include:

• Ardha Chandra Asana with Pada-Hasta Asana or Half Moon Pose with Hand to Feet Pose
• Dandayamana Janu-Shirsa Asana or the Standing Head to Knee Pose
• Dandayamana Dhanura Asana or the Standing Bow Pose
• Tuladanda Asana or the Balancing Stick Pose
• Dandayamana Bibhaktapada Paschimottana Asana or the Standing Separate Leg Stretching Pose
• Dandayamana Bibhaktapada Janushira Asana or the Standing Leg Head to Knee Pose
• Poorna Salabha Asana or the Full Locust Pose.

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