Whether you have been practicing Yoga for a very long time or are ready to learn more about it, there are fabulous Yoga retreats found across the globe catering to all levels of experience. Before we talk about wellness resorts and retreats, here some Yoga basics…

Yoga is an ancient Indian body of knowledge that dates back more than 5000 years ago. The word “Yoga” came from the Sanskrit word “yuj” which means “to unite or integrate.” Yoga then is about the union of a person’s own consciousness and the universal consciousness.

Six Branches of Yoga
Hatha Yoga (Yoga of Postures) is the most widely known path of Yoga and you are probably most familiar with it because of its popularity in the West. This branch of Yoga uses physical poses or Asana, Breathing Techniques or Pranayama, and Meditation to achieve better health, as well as spirituality. There are many styles within this path - Iyengar, Integral, Ashtanga, Bikram, Kripalu, and Jiva Mukti to name a few.

The other five branches are: Bhakti Yoga (Yoga of Devotion) is the path most followed in India. This is the path of the heart and devotion. Yogis who practice this branch sees the “One” or the Divine in everyone and everything.
Raja Yoga (Yoga of Self-Control). This path is considered to be the King of Yoga and this may be due to the fact that most of its practitioners are members of religious and spiritual orders. Raja Yoga is based on the teachings of the Eight Limbs of Yoga found in the Yoga sutras. Jnana Yoga (Yoga of the Mind) is the path of Yoga that basically deals with the mind, and as such, it focuses on man’s intelligence. Karma Yoga (Yoga of Service) is the path of service for in this path, it is believed that your present situation is based on your past actions. So by doing selfless service now, you are choosing a future that is free from negativity and selfishness. Finally, Tantra Yoga (Yoga of Rituals) This Yoga is about using rituals to experience what is sacred. Although sex is a part of it, sex is not the whole of it since this path aims to find what is sacred in everything we do. Tantra Yogis must possess certain qualities like purity, humility, devotion, dedication to his Guru, cosmic love, and truthfulness among other things.

Types of Hatha Yoga
Ashtanga / Power - An athletic, fast paced yoga that is not recommended for beginning students. The core emphasis is on Vinyasa - incorporating Ujjayi Pranayama and linking the breath with each movement throughout the practice. Ashtanga has a rigid sequence of poses and uses the practice of Mula Bandha. Power yoga is a derivative of Ashtanga using a more creative sequencing of poses.

Bikram / Hot - Physically focused and athletic yoga practiced in a room heated to 100+ degrees. Bikram is a rigid sequence of 26 poses, while Hot yoga incorporates more of a variety of poses.

Iyengar - A technical yoga with a strong focus on alignment and a heavy use of props. Iyengar yoga also emphasizes the therapeutic properties of the poses. A good choice for the beginning student.

Kripalu - an therapeutic, gentle and spiritually focused yoga with clear alignment and a three stage approach incorporating Pratyahara (inner focus) and Dhrana (meditation) within the yoga poses. Great choice for the beginning student.

Kundalini - an dynamic, esoteric and energizing yoga incorporating pranayama, movement, asana, and chanting. The aim of Kundalini is to invoke the dormant spiritual energy at the base of the spine.


Sivananda - an traditional approach to yoga with a ridgid class structure of asana, pranayama, meditation and relaxation. Sivananda yoga teaches many advanced poses making it not the best place for a beginning student.

Viniyoga - a therapeutic and individualistic approach to yoga incorporating Vinyasa through the use of repetitious movements in and out of a posture. This highly adaptable yoga is good for students with physical limitations or injuries.