Zen and Japanese Home and Garden

September is National Yoga Month so it seems fitting to talk about it and provide information about the various types of Yoga. Yoga is the epitome of mind over muscle. Holding any yoga pose takes strength and flexibility and the ability to do so requires you to stay focused and concentrate. Use this guide to choose which of the most popular types of yoga best suits you and allows you to “be in the moment”.

Restorative Yoga This type of Yoga is full of relaxing poses that you do lying down with support from blankets or bolsters. You will rest in each pose for several minutes and may be led in guided meditation. Try Restorative Yoga is stress is keeping you up at night or giving you headaches. If your goal is weight loss, you might want to read further.

Kundalini Yoga Your focus with this type of Yoga is on breath, non-traditional movements and Eastern Philosophy. Instructors often wear white, use gongs with an emphasis on balancing the body’s energy. You will love Kundalini if you want a spiritual experience as well as a workout. There often is a lot of philosophy and singing.

Lyengar Yoga This is a slow class that focuses on alignment by having you hold poses for several minutes. You will need to break down all of the poses and focus on proper form in order to prevent injury. Expect some spirituality woven in; this type of Yoga is for you particularly if you are a perfectionist—exactitude is key.
Bikram Yoga 26 poses done in 105 degree heat helps you stretch. If you like pushing your body to extremes and sweating a lot—this yoga is for you. This is not recommended if you are sensitive to heat, have high blood pressure or are nursing an injury. No added philosophy here.

Ashtanga Yoga This is a fast paced, athletic practice that links each movement to an inhale or exhale. There is a series of movements which you can memorize and go at your own pace. If you enjoy routine and a high caloric burn, you will love this type of Yoga.

Vinyasa Yoga This is a “power yoga” class. A flow of continuous movements, classes move fast to music and can vary from strictly posing to several minutes of chanting.

Choose a Yoga Style to build strength, find inner peace or both!

If you’re like most people, you have no idea what a Zabuton or a Zafu is, let alone why you would need to buy them as a set. But once you discover them, you will understand why they play such an important role in keeping you centered and balanced.   The Zabuton and Zafu set is usually purchased by someone who regularly practices meditation. 

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Are you having trouble staying focused during meditation?  Even the ticking of a clock or an awareness of how much time is remaining can keep you from reaching a deep meditative state.  Unfortunately, this may be caused by most of the meditation timers available on the market. But there is a new and exciting solution. The Enso Pearl Meditation Timer is now for sale at Chopa.com, and it is generating a lot of interest.

The word “enso” means circle in Japanese, and the symbol for enso is also a sign for enlightenment; the oneness of which can be drawn with a single brushstroke. 

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As someone who studies the traditions of Asian cultures and often compares them to modern day American culture, I am always amazed at the simplicity with which the Japanese live their lives.   

Thousands of years as a civilization have taught them some important concepts that still elude Westerners. One of these is evident in the tradition of the Japanese temple gong.  Even though most Asians today are no longer entrenched in the use of Japanese gongs, the temple bowl gong remains a favorite carryover from ancient Buddhist culture. 

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