I’m sure you’ve noticed the many types of yoga being used, that have been gaining massive popularity in recent years. Yoga has been used for thousands of years by Eastern cultures; and for good reason.
Yoga (of all kinds) an exhilarating experience for the mind & body, and offers a plethora of health benefits. Which as we all know is a very, pleasant but also a very rare combination not available in many other forms of exercise.
They say that two is always better than one, and it is no different when it comes to health and fitness.
Some of the physical benefits that yoga offers are:
- Increased Flexibility
- Improvement in Strength and Muscle Tone
- Increased Respiratory Breathing
Not to mention the boost in energy & metabolism, and it’s power to increase weight loss. In fact, studies have shown that the effects of certain types of yoga can even reset your whole body at the cellular level with the way they function.
The mental benefits of yoga are also huge. It’s a great avenue for stress management, positive thinking, focus, and clarity. It’s good or your all around well-being.
Now that the benefits have well been written for us, Where does this all fit in for you. Whether you’ve have had experience with several types of yoga, or whether it’s completely new to you. You may be wondering whether you will be able to practice yoga, the way the yogis do it and have been doing for thousands of years. Or why they do these strange poses, and the benefits of it.
Ever wonder what these different poses are used for? Here I give you 14 useful types of yoga that are being practiced; broken down for you to tell you why they’re used, how it is practiced, and of course, the benefits these yoga practices have on the body and mind. So that you can find which style is best fit for you to focus on.
14 Popular Yoga Practices
1. Anusara
Anusara yoga practice was created by John Friend and is a purist kind of yoga. The yogis are allowed to express themselves freely. The physical postures practiced here are those that the yogis are easily capable of
It is heartfelt and helps align and calm the body, mind and spirit. Among the many types of yoga, this one not only offers great mind & body benefits, it is also great for beginners. As one is able to do what his or her body is comfortable with.
2. Ashtanga Yoga
This is a physically demanding practice consisting of six synchronized poses; done in sequence. The primary sequence, secondary sequence, third, fourth, fifth then sixth.
It involves rapid movement from one pose to the next with inhale and exhale breath poses. Due to its physically demanding nature; it focuses on body toning and core strength building. This yoga is equally challenging and orderly.
3. Bikram
Bikram is a great practice for those of us who believe that sweating is the only way to weight loss or physical fitness. If you are also that kind of person, then Bikram Choundhry had you in mind when he came up with this type of yoga.
It is performed in a sauna kind of room heated to approximately 105 degrees and 40 percent humidity. This ninety minute yoga exercise consists of 26 poses and two breathing exercises each performed twice. Who can say no to a combination of sauna and a wellness exercise?
4. Hatha Yoga
This is considered among one of the gentler forms of yoga. It is a slow practice consisting of breathing and physical posture exercises. Hatha yoga has managed to offer a balance between posture and breathing; which is truly what yoga is all about.
5. Iyengar Yoga
Iyengar yoga also referred as furniture yoga. It uses props such as yoga blocks, strategically placed blankets, and straps to help the yogis’ work within a specified motion. With each pose being held for a specific period of time.
Therefore the use of props is not only effective but safe. Iyengar yoga is good for persons of all ages, because of the safety factor applied in its practice.
6. Jivamkuti Yoga
Founded by David Life and Sharon Gannon; Jivamkuti yoga combines physical activity, meditation, philosophy and music. It is known for pushing individuals to their limit. If you are a person who loves challenges and discovering your abilities, this is highly recommended for you.
7. Kripalu Yoga
Kripalu is all about self-knowledge and acceptance. It is about figuring out how an individual’s body works or feels in the various yoga poses. Meditating and letting the body have its own flow is also involved in this practice. This is very good for beginner yogis.
8. Kundalini
Kundalini offers physical, spiritual and mental challenges all wrapped into one. It involves constant movement, strenuous poses and intense breathing exercises. This is believed to help to release untapped energy from inside of a person, creating higher levels of self-awareness.
9. Prenatal Yoga
This is mostly practiced by women through the various stages of pregnancy and also post pregnancy. Prenatal yoga helps strengthen the body’s muscles through pregnancy, and helps women get back in their pre-pregnancy shape after giving birth.
10. Restorative Yoga
For those that want a layed back experience, this is very good style for those who want a nice and easy yoga session. How about an exercise that is more relaxing than it is work? It involves 4 to 5 poses twenty minutes per pose. Restorative yoga uses props such as blankets and eye pillows ensure deep relaxation.
11. Sivanada
Sivanada consists of 12 slow basic postures. Each ending with saluting the sun. Breathing, diet, relaxation, positive thoughts and exercise are all combined in this yoga type.
12. Viniyoga
Every person is different from the other and therefore everyone has differing expectations when they exercise. Viniyoga provides for individualized movements. A yogi is free to adopt any pose, according to what their body can do and what it requires. This style is about differentiation, adaptation and application.
13. Vinyasa
If you love dancing, this is for you. It involves short quick sequenced poses with some music that matches the beat to the pose sequences. It is a fun way of getting fit both physically and mentally.
14. Yin Yoga
Patience is the one virtue required for Yin yoga. It gives an individual calm and balance of the body and mind. It involves long poses that help lengthening connective tissues, along with restoring muscle length and elasticity. It involves the use of props making it comfortable and easy for people who are not very flexible.
That’s one of the many great things. There are so many different types of yoga, it’s versatile for everyone to use. Everyone can try different styles and discover what their preferences are. It caters to people of all ages and gender; it also caters to people with special needs and even women who are pregnant. So, go ahead, get that yoga mat and enroll for a class, and have a blast.
