Yoga is becoming a more and more
popular activity in the Western
world today. The number of places
holding Yoga classes is on the
increase and there is a plethora of
different types of Yoga. With a
choice of Hatha Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga,
Power Yoga, Iyengar Yoga, Bikram
Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga and many more it
can be easy to get confused
The
article will help you to understand
the difference between the most
popular types of Yoga so you can
choose which type is right for you.
Hatha Yoga - in Sanskrit (an
ancient classical language of India)
“Ha” means “sun” and “tha” means
“moon”. This type of Yoga is
relatively slow paced, gentle type
of Yoga and is a good place to start
if you are completely new to Yoga
and don't know any of the asanas
(poses). Like all types of Yoga,
Hatha Yoga aims to unite the mind,
body and spirit.
Ashtanga Yoga - this is the type
of Yoga that I practice on a regular
basis and means “eight limbs” in
Sanskrit. It's a fast moving,
intense style of Yoga practice and
is based on a progressive set
sequence of asanas, synchronized
with the breath. Ashtanga Yoga can
be quite physically demanding as you
constantly move from one asana in
the sequence to the next, so you'll
find that it will improve your
stamina as well as your flexibility
and strength..
Power Yoga - this is a western
interpretation of Yoga and is based
on Ashtanga Yoga. A Power Yoga class
may not necessarily stick to the
exact sequence of poses like
Ashtanga Yoga does, but it does
involve practicing a series of poses
without stopping and starting.
Iyengar Yoga - This type of Yoga
is based on teachings by B.K.S
Igengar and concentrates on the
correct alignment and form of the
body. Unlike Ashtanga Yoga, there is
an emphasis on holding each pose for
a long period of time rather than
moving constantly from one pose to
the next. Iyengar Yoga uses props
such as blocks and straps to help
align the body into the different
poses.
Vinyasa Yoga - Vinyasa means
breath synchronized movement and is
another fast paced type of Yoga,
with an emphasis on breathing. A
practice typically starts with sun
salutations and moves on to more
intense stretching. Throughout the
practice each pose is balanced with
a counter pose.
Bikram Yoga - otherwise known as
“Hot Yoga”, is practiced in a room
heated to 105 degrees, with a
humidity of around 40%. Generally a
sequence of 26 different poses is
practiced during a Bikram Yoga class
and the hot temperature helps to
loosen muscles. Due to the high
temperature most people sweat a lot
during the class and this helps to
cleanse the body of toxins.
If you're just starting out or
have never done any Yoga before, I
recommend trying a few different
types of yoga to find out what you
like best.
Remember, there's no rule that
says you have to stick to one type
of Yoga. I like Ashtanga Yoga best,
but I also go to occasional Iyengar
and Hatha Yoga classes for a bit of
variety.
To find out more about the
different types of Yoga visit the
Free online Yoga Guide
Article Source:
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