Yugenyoga

Yoga is a concept and practice that has been around since before recorded history. In India, the earliest references arrived around 5000BC  making yoga one of the most established and durable activities in the world.
“Yugen” is not a style of yoga, but a Japanese term that embodies, and perhaps even magnifies the principles and beliefs of yoga. The term Yugen means “a deep awareness of the universe that triggers responses too deep to be expressed in words”.

Yoga is about health and fitness…..yes, for sure, but it is also about oneness or union and at the deepest level can provide meaning to our being.
It is about the whole being and even more than that it is about bringing together every aspect of existence. In doing so the benefits are not just health and fitness but also mental well-being, peace, tranquility and contentedness along with an appreciation of all that is around us, because what is around us……. is us.
Traditional yoga has 8 limbs or branches.
Over the years, however,  yoga has adapted, and in the last century various new approaches have been adopted dividing the practice into categories beyond what was traditional, to suit the tastes of those who participate. There are said to be 11 main styles that include the following:

Vinyasa – adapted from Ashtang yoga in the 1980s is considered a physical or athletic style that is focused on postures, and stringing them together in a sequence without holding for long periods. Consequently there is more movement.

Hatha – physical yoga as opposed to more esoteric styles

Iyengar – breath control (pranayama) while adopting physical postures

Kundalini – both spiritual and physical, can involve meditation, chantras and mantras. Is aimed at the release of embodied energy and can be more intense and faster moving that some other styles

Ashtanga – more physically demanding following the 8 paths. Beginners would be advised to move to ashtanga after an apprenticeship in other styles

Bikram –  is a trademarked style following the founder Bikram Choudhury who faced sexual allegations and lawsuits in the USA. To avoid this background many  renamed the style “Hot Yoga” as it is practiced at 40*C at special humidity. It follows a series of 26 postures which are repeated and which look for correct alignment.

Yin – at a slower pace this is a meditative form of yoga

Restorative – aimed at relaxation and unwinding after a stressful day

Prenatal – targeted at the mother-to-be and aiming to bring together the mother and baby in preparation for childbirth and beyond

Anusara – focusing on alignment and the fusing of the various aspects of being – mind-body-soul

Jivamukti – follows Hindu teachings and includes diet and a connection between the being and the earth

Pilates – while not a style of yoga, Pilates was developed by Joseph Pilates in the 1920’s and is based on a combination of yoga asanas and knowledge passed on by his father who was a gymnast and his mother who was a naturopath. The result is an exercise system designed to strengthen and remediate the body.

Pilates is almost entirely physical, whereas Yoga is a holistic system system designed to bring together many aspects of life, and at deeper levels to incorporate every element of your being with the universe.

You can practice Yoga or Pilates in a variety of ways.
You may choose to join a gathering and study under an instructor, yogi (male), or yogini, (female), in a class. Here you will get companionship and be able to learn first-hand and ask questions.
Nowadays, however, it is possible to learn online and there are a multitude of yoga classes easily accessible on the internet.
The main requirement is space to be able to perform the asanas (postures & movements) freely, without damaging your surroundings or yourself.
Next is equipment – you will require a suitable high quality mat to work on, and loose-fitting or stretch leggings that allow you to perform the movements freely and unimpeded. Sometimes the style you choose will require you to have accessories such as straps, blocks and other items that offer resistance or facilitate a particular movement.
All these items are available on this site.

T-shirts and rashguards for the upper body are also available on this site.

This site is about supporting health and fitness. Yoga is one channel towards these objectives. Of course our products have equal application whether in Yoga, Pilates and related health activities.
We have sourced our own brand of Yoga mats and apparel from top recognised manufacturers from around the globe and present these here.

Over coming months you will see our product range expand. If there are other items you feel should be included please let us know!
You can be assured that what you see here is a superior quality product and our products are aimed at being friendly to the environment.