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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