THE DIFFERENT TYPE OF YOGA

 


THE DIFFERENT TYPE OF YOGA

Before practicing yoga, you should know about the different types of yoga and which kinds of yoga suits your personality.

There are several types of yoga styles such as vigorous, relaxing, restorative, etc. It depends on your choice that whether you want physical fitness or mental fitness or flexibility or strength any body part or help with chronic pain or any other help. The basic types of yoga include ashtanga yoga, Bikram yoga, hatha yoga, kundalini yoga, Vinyasa yoga, and many other forms.

You already know why you are chasing yoga but you don’t know, which kind of yoga style will help you. Right? But you know what, you can boost your strength, flexibility, improve your balance, release tension, and quiet your mind with any style of yoga.

Out of the different types of yoga, let us discuss some 14 types of yoga styles for you.

14 different types of yoga for you

Ashtanga Yoga

It includes six nonstop series of yoga poses. Ashtanga yoga is offered by many studios, one of them is a Mysore-style studio where each student has a unique practice and is assessed by senior instructors. The practitioner moves at their own pace of his/her breath while moving from one pose to another. It helps the practitioner to focus the mind and control the flow of breath through the body.

These kinds of yoga are not for the beginner as this ashtanga series involves a very physically demanding sequence of postures.

Bikram Yoga

This yoga is commonly known for the hot environment and controllable humidity. No matter where you go, a “hot yoga” class include twenty-six postures and two breathing techniques in ninety minutes, in a room heated to 40.6 degree Celsius (105-degree Fahrenheit), with a humidity of 40%-45%.

It is the best yoga style for managing weight, flushing toxins, and achieving the goals of a flexible body.

Hatha yoga

Hatha yoga includes physical posture of yoga, the practice of asanas, meditation, and pranayama (breathing exercise). It is a gentle form of yoga that brings peace, balance, and flexibility to your mind & body.

This basic type of yoga is great for beginners or students who prefer a more relaxed style where they can hold yoga poses for a longer duration.

Anusara Yoga

It is a modern practice, similar to hatha yoga but different when measured in respect of attitude, alignment, and action. It generally starts with a chant and ends with quiet meditation, while on focusing proper alignment of mind-heart-body.

It can be practiced with qualified instructors in their way as it includes almost 250 poses.

Iyengar Yoga

In this kind of yoga pose, you pay closer attention to the precise musculoskeletal alignment within each pose. You may use blocks, belts, bolsters, chairs, walls, and blankets, to accommodate injuries, structural imbalance, tightness while performing proper yoga poses.

Restorative yoga

This style focuses on body relaxation and cleansing your mind. Though all different type of yoga helps in releasing tension and relaxing body & mind restorative yoga focus on downregulating nervous system i.e., help you to de-stress yourself.

Yoga poses included in this form are the best yoga style as it involves some handful of yoga, repeated again and again with help of props on your yoga mat.

Kripalu yoga

Kripalu yoga includes three stages which are willful practice, willful surrender, and meditation in motion. In simple terms, you will practice some bodily movement needed to release physical and mental tension and enter into deep meditation. 

Kundalini yoga

If you are a spiritual seeker, you can opt for this type of yoga style you will concentrate on awakening the energy at the base of your spine and drawing it upward through seven chakras.

The different kinds of yoga are practiced for the different benefit, kundalini yoga is practiced for spiritual growth and it includes meditation, breathing techniques, and chanting of mantras like A-U-M.

Power yoga or vinyasa Flow Yoga

Resembling ashtanga yoga, power yoga is used to build upper-body strength, maintain flexibility and balance with series of rigorous workouts while keeping the practitioner body on move.

You are advised to take your early classes on a slower style of yoga before jumping on power yoga.

Jivamukti yoga

Jivamukti yoga resembles ashtanga in the power yoga style through asanas. In addition to this, its classes include meditation, music, affirmation, chanting, and meditation.

As a beginner, your class starts with standing poses which are followed by instruction on forward bends, backbends, and inversion. Your instructor may teach you some chants.

Sivananda Yoga

“who am I”, if this question often arises in your mind, this Sivananda yoga is designed for you. It includes 12 basic postures that increase the flexibility and strength of the spine. It is based on five main principles: 

proper relaxation (Savasana); proper diet (vegetarian); and positive thinking (Vedanta); proper exercise (asanas); proper breathing (pranayama); and meditation (dhyana).

Viniyoga

Viniyoga is practiced for developing an integrated practice for each person as they grow and prosper in their life. It is a yogic tool to individualize and actualize the process of self-analysis and individual transformation.

This yoga is ideal if you want flexibility, body awareness, relaxation, and recovery from injury.

Prenatal Yoga

Ladies who are expecting their baby and, in their trimesters, can do this yoga after taking proper advice from their doctor. This is the best type of yoga style for expectant moms as it includes breathing exercises, pelvic floor work which strengthens the bond between mother & baby and prepares a mother for labor and delivery of the baby

Yin Yoga

Yin yoga can be quite challenging for you as a beginner. It is a slow-paced style in which poses are held for a longer time to apply moderate stress to the connective tissue- the ligaments, fascia, tendons. It increases blood circulation in the joints and improves flexibility.

Which style of yoga will suit your personality?

Before start practicing yoga, you should analyze various factors such as the main aim of practicing yoga, fitness level, personality, etc.

You can prefer some suggestion given below:

·        If you are inclined toward mediation and spiritual aspects.

You can try those kinds of yoga which include plenty of meditation, chanting, and philosophic parts of yoga like kundalini yoga, Jivamukti yoga.

·        If you want recovery from injury or any other medical condition:

You can try Iyengar yoga, Kripalu yoga, or Viniyoga.

·        If you seek physical fitness and proper posture:

You might try Bikram Yoga, Ashtanga yoga, Hatha Yoga, or Power yoga.

Final words

Now, you know about the different types of yoga and how you will choose the best yoga style for yourself. But you should visit your doctor before practicing any form, especially, if you have any medical condition such as hypertension, diabetes, or are in your 30s.

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