Perhaps you’ve heard of yoga from someone at the office or come across a random article on the internet espousing the benefits of this time honored movement practice only to find out that there are a few different types of yoga to choose from.
On the surface, most yoga practices look quite similar, but knowing the nuances can help you set off on the right path for your fitness and spiritual goals and make your overall experience much more rewarding.
The Absolute Basics: Newbies Start Here
The word Yoga is actually derived from the Sanskrit ‘yug’, meaning union. As both a spiritual and physical movement style, yoga is designed to unite the mind, body and soul with the aim of reaching a perfect state in which the mind is clear, the soul turns inward and the body is pure and strong.
All the different types of yoga offer their own benefits; physically, yoga offers relief from an endless array of ailments that plague the body and remains an excellent form of cross training which builds flexibility, balance, strength and promotes weight loss. With this greater awareness of your body comes better agility and better sense of self-confidence.
As for the mind and spirit, yoga can help focus, concentration, and confidence. It also hones your body to better handle stressful or challenging situations that test us every day. Many people that partake of it have also found that it can help balance mood swings and result in a calmer state of mind.
Different Yoga Styles
The major types of yoga (by no means all of them) include Bikram, Ashtanga, Iyengar, and Sivanada. Confusion abounds at first but the best way to choose the type of yoga that’s best for you is to decide what your needs are first and explore options that help you reach your goals.
Each of these styles is derived from or has been influenced by a form called Hatha yoga. It is the most common one taught in the western world because of its focus on awareness, relaxation and conscious breathing.
Bikram Yoga
One of the most challenging style of Yoga, Bikram yoga takes place in rooms heated above 105 degrees Fahrenheit with roughly 40% humidity and a focus on 26 postures and 2 breathing techniques. Bikram does not use props or demonstrations. Students learn the poses by watching and listening to the instructor and while it can be intense even from beginner classes, Bikram students swear by the results of this challenging yoga style.
Ashtanga Yoga
A very vigorous type of yoga, Ashtanga is designed around a continuous form of movement. Ashtanga is one of the rare types of yoga that does not have pauses between movements and instead flows from one to another, creating heat in the body to purge it of toxins and building strength, flexibility and endurance.
Iyengar Yoga
This form of yoga emphasizes bodily placement and alignment with the use of various objects to accommodate students of different levels of flexibility and fitness. This type of practice is especially useful for people who have injures and weaknesses or are otherwise inflexible. Classes tend to be slow because of the concentration given to each pose but Iyengar yoga is an ideal way for new comers to get started with yoga.
Sivananda Yoga
Among the few yoga rooted in Hatha yoga, Sivananda yoga is the most evident. It focuses on a five-point philosophy in every class, focusing on principles such as relaxation, breathing, diet, positive thinking and exercise. Classes follow a sequence of breathing exercises, a routine of postures and deep relaxation and meditation, making it excellent for newcomers and those seeking a supportive atmosphere.
Conclusion
Whether your goals are to challenge yourself, gain better sense of balance and personal growth, or to rehabilitate your body, you now have a broad scope of what to expect from many of the most popular types of yoga practiced around the globe. Remember to look for certified yoga instructors for your chosen discipline as these people will have the most experience and have gone through rigorous certification and training to help you meet your spiritual and fitness goals.
On the surface, most yoga practices look quite similar, but knowing the nuances can help you set off on the right path for your fitness and spiritual goals and make your overall experience much more rewarding.
The Absolute Basics: Newbies Start Here
The word Yoga is actually derived from the Sanskrit ‘yug’, meaning union. As both a spiritual and physical movement style, yoga is designed to unite the mind, body and soul with the aim of reaching a perfect state in which the mind is clear, the soul turns inward and the body is pure and strong.
All the different types of yoga offer their own benefits; physically, yoga offers relief from an endless array of ailments that plague the body and remains an excellent form of cross training which builds flexibility, balance, strength and promotes weight loss. With this greater awareness of your body comes better agility and better sense of self-confidence.
As for the mind and spirit, yoga can help focus, concentration, and confidence. It also hones your body to better handle stressful or challenging situations that test us every day. Many people that partake of it have also found that it can help balance mood swings and result in a calmer state of mind.
Different Yoga Styles
The major types of yoga (by no means all of them) include Bikram, Ashtanga, Iyengar, and Sivanada. Confusion abounds at first but the best way to choose the type of yoga that’s best for you is to decide what your needs are first and explore options that help you reach your goals.
Each of these styles is derived from or has been influenced by a form called Hatha yoga. It is the most common one taught in the western world because of its focus on awareness, relaxation and conscious breathing.
Bikram Yoga
One of the most challenging style of Yoga, Bikram yoga takes place in rooms heated above 105 degrees Fahrenheit with roughly 40% humidity and a focus on 26 postures and 2 breathing techniques. Bikram does not use props or demonstrations. Students learn the poses by watching and listening to the instructor and while it can be intense even from beginner classes, Bikram students swear by the results of this challenging yoga style.
Ashtanga Yoga
A very vigorous type of yoga, Ashtanga is designed around a continuous form of movement. Ashtanga is one of the rare types of yoga that does not have pauses between movements and instead flows from one to another, creating heat in the body to purge it of toxins and building strength, flexibility and endurance.
Iyengar Yoga
This form of yoga emphasizes bodily placement and alignment with the use of various objects to accommodate students of different levels of flexibility and fitness. This type of practice is especially useful for people who have injures and weaknesses or are otherwise inflexible. Classes tend to be slow because of the concentration given to each pose but Iyengar yoga is an ideal way for new comers to get started with yoga.
Sivananda Yoga
Among the few yoga rooted in Hatha yoga, Sivananda yoga is the most evident. It focuses on a five-point philosophy in every class, focusing on principles such as relaxation, breathing, diet, positive thinking and exercise. Classes follow a sequence of breathing exercises, a routine of postures and deep relaxation and meditation, making it excellent for newcomers and those seeking a supportive atmosphere.
Conclusion
Whether your goals are to challenge yourself, gain better sense of balance and personal growth, or to rehabilitate your body, you now have a broad scope of what to expect from many of the most popular types of yoga practiced around the globe. Remember to look for certified yoga instructors for your chosen discipline as these people will have the most experience and have gone through rigorous certification and training to help you meet your spiritual and fitness goals.
