by Youngbear Roth

Created on: September 08, 2010   Last Updated: November 30, 2010

At least twenty different "schools" of Yoga are available in the West today, and that number is rapidly growing. Yoga's journey began approximately six to eight thousand years ago, and being a savvy traveler, Yoga selects those elements along the path that it feels will best serve its mystic goal of "renunciation," also termed as "dying" to humankind's suffering.

New elements create new schools with philosophical twists and turns. However, throughout Yoga's history of creating new schools only one modality – subtle energy manipulation through meditation – and two "styles" of Yoga – dynamic and static – have been used to reach the mystic goal of liberation from suffering.

The terms "school" and "style" are often used interchangeably - they are not.  Historically, schools come and go and change - styles do not. Today, we'll review Yoga's two styles.

"Dynamic" Yoga meditation:

Dynamic Yoga meditation is demonstrated as a repetitive style of movement timed to your breath if you are working with 'asanas' ('vinyasa' poses such as Cat Cow Pose or kneeling alternate arm and leg lifts), or repetitive 'pranayama' (breathing such as swift nose panting for one minute), or seated chanting meditation – silent or audible.

The advantages of the dynamic style are:

1.Flexibility.
2.Muscle fiber strengthening and toning.
3.Aerobic conditioning.
4.Respiratory efficiency (tissue cleansing and repair).
5.Cerebellar response training (physical).
6.Neuroplasticity training.      

"Static" Yoga meditation:

Static Yoga meditation is demonstrated as a prolonged holding style of asana meditation (such as Mountain Pose or Child Pose), pranayama subtle energy locks or 'bandhas' (such as Udiyana Bandha), or seated awareness meditation training (such as 'Shikantaza' or 'Zazen' of the Buddhist Yoga school).

The advantages of the static style are:

1.Strength and stamina of the joint and connective tissues, which are targeted beyond the muscle tissue because they must bear a constant load, however, without dynamic movement the joint's tissue and bursa (these prevent bone from rubbing against bone)are not wearing away.
2.The opportunity to consciously, "gradually" train your breathing to slow down thus inviting control over your oxygen levels to increase energy or decrease tension.
3.The opportunity to train your concentration and mental focus for purposes such as stress and anxiety reduction. For example, practicing Mountain Pose can become a deep visualization exercise.
4.The opportunity to practice awareness of your body responses moment to moment – the result being an overall shift in general awareness of the world around you and how your actions affect your thinking patterns, emotional responses, and physical wear and tear.
5.Limbic response training (emotions, creativity, values of good and bad).

We are born, we grow, and then we age. At different stages in our lives our goals shift.  By understanding how to use the Yoga meditation styles of dynamic Yoga or static Yoga, we have at the ready an adaptable aid to help us enjoy life to its fullest.

You may discuss these styles with your physician, teacher, or therapist who will be able to design a program using both styles to achieve a focus on your current goals.

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