Choosing a Style of Yoga

Here in America, yoga continues to gain in popularity, with more and more facilities becoming available for the practice of yoga. However, if you're like most yoga novices, you may be confused or overwhelmed by all the different choices. This will guide you to choose from Hatha Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Iyengar Yoga, Power Yoga, Bikram Yoga, and Vinyasa Yoga. Read on to learn more.

Hatha Yoga - In the Sanskrit language, "Ha" means "sun" and "tha" means "moon" so Hatha refers to the balance of the sun and the moon. This is a slower-paced kind of yoga, ideal for newbies and less flexible students.. Like all types of Yoga, Hatha Yoga aims to unite the mind, body and spirit.

Ashtanga Yoga - Ashtanga means "eight limbs" in Sanskrit. This is a fast-paced, intense kind of yoga, ideal for 'type A' personalities and those who grow bored easily.. Ashtanga Yoga can be quite physically demanding as you are 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 based on Ashtanga Yoga and is considered a western interpretation of 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 kind of Yoga is based on teachings by B.K.This type of yoga focuses on the correct alignment and form of your body.. This kind of yoga places an emphasis on holding each pose for longer periods of time (rather than moving fluidly from one pose to another).. Props such as blocks or straps may be used to align the body properly into various 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", Bikram 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. The sweating that ensues during class (due to high temperatures in the room) assists in cleansing the body of toxins..

If you're just starting out or have never done any Yoga before, you may want to try 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.

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