Today there are many different types of yoga that some people adapt to make it their own style, but we are going to take a look at a few of the basic original styles to see which one will benefit you the most.
Yoga is about you and your practice. So knowing where to start is going to be very helpful. Yoga can be thought of as a union of body, mind, and spirit.
There are 8 limbs of yoga, the Yamas (restraints, or proper social behaviors), niyamas (observances personal behavior, diet, and healthy lifestyle), asana (postures), pranayama (breathing), pratyahara (controlling the 5 senses), dharana (concentration), dhyani (meditation), and samadhi (union with the devine)
Most people only practice the 3rd limb, (asana) as a form of exercise to take care of their bodies. That is where I started. and my practice has grown from there. once you have experienced the benefits that come from Asana you will also move naturally into a more deeper practice. some other benefits of yoga are,
- increase your flexibility
- increase muscle tone and strength
- improve your circulatory and cardio health
- helps you sleep better
- increase your energy levels
- improve athletic performance
- reduce injuries
- detoxify your organs
- improve your posture
- improves anxiety and depression
- helps with chronic pain
- release endorphins that improve your mood
- and so much more…
So let’s get into the 8 types of yoga.
- Ashtanga Yoga, also called Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, is a vigorous and flowing style of yoga developed in the 20th century. It involves synchronizing breath with progressive and continuous postures, which produces internal heat while detoxifying the body.
2. Kundalini Yoga, This style is all about releasing the kundalini energy in your body said to be trapped, or coiled, in the lower spine. These classes really work your core and breathing with fast-moving, invigorating postures, and breathing exercises. These classes are pretty intense and can involve chanting, mantra, and meditation.
3. Anusara Yoga “Yoga of the Heart” Anusara is a branch of Hatha yoga that uniquely integrates deep spiritual teachings and precise principles of alignment into the practice. At the heart of Anusara Yoga are its life-affirming principles of “Opening to Grace” and “Aligning with the Divine.”
4. Bikram yoga is a type of yoga that involves a sequence of set poses and is usually done in a hot room at or above body temperature. a series of postures that systematically move fresh, oxygenated blood to 100 percent of your body, to each organ and fiber, Most classes last at least 90 minutes
5. Iyengar Yoga, By paying close attention to anatomical details and the alignment of each posture, Iyengar Yoga is the practice of precision. Poses are held for long periods and often modified with props. This method is designed to systematically cultivate strength, flexibility, stability, and awareness, and can be therapeutic for specific conditions.
6. Vinyasa Yoga The word “vinyasa” can be translated as “arranging something in a special way,” like yoga poses for example. In vinyasa yoga classes, students coordinate movement with breath to flow from one pose to the next.
7. Hatha Yoga Most forms of yoga in the West can be classified as Hatha Yoga. Hatha simply refers to the practice of physical yoga postures, The word “Hatha” can be translated two ways: as “willful” or “forceful,” or the yoga of activity. Hatha practices are designed to align and calm your body, mind, and spirit in preparation for meditation.
8. Yin Yoga, This practice is designed to help you sit longer, and more comfortably, in meditation by stretching connective tissue around the joints (mainly the knees, pelvis, sacrum, and spine). A passive practice, Yin Yoga involves variations of seated and supine poses typically held for 3 to 5 minutes, accessing deeper layers of fascia.
Inclosing, Whichever type of yoga you choose according to your abilities make it your own, This is about you. so be amazing, be confident be strong, but most importantly be you.
If you enjoyed this article please read the Top 5 yoga poses for bad knees.
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