Knowing Which Type of Yoga Will Suit You Best
Monday, November 30, 2015
Which yoga is right for you? It all depends on what you want to achieve!
Choosing the right form of yoga depends on your goals and needs. Find out which is best for you
Whether you're recovering from injury, wanting to get flexible or increase your strength, there's a form of yoga for you.
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What's not to like about being sprawled out on a mat, stretching your muscles and indulging in tranquillity? Not only does the practise of yoga refresh your mind and tone your body, but it also helps improve your immune system, lower stress levels and provide a whole host of other health benefits.
In today's fast-paced times, yoga has become more popular than ever. With a whole bunch of varieties on offer, though, how do you know which type is right for you? And when is it a good time to start practising yoga?
Firstly, there's no time like the present! Yoga can benefit anyone of any fitness level, physical ability and age. The benefits of practise are bountiful and you don't have to be particularly flexible or in top shape to start. It's mostly a case of figuring out which style of yoga will benefit your body and mind the most.
It's essential that you find a type that meets your unique needs. Here's a rundown of some of the most common yoga styles practiced out there.
1. HATHA YOGA
Hatha came about in the 15th Century in India. It's a gentle, slow-paced yoga that focuses mainly on meditation and deep breathing techniques.
The purpose of Hatha yoga is to introduce beginners to yoga with a number relaxation techniques and basic poses. This is a great form of yoga if you want to improve your breathing and relieve stress while enjoy gentle physical exercise.
This is the perfect type of yoga for beginners and those who would like to learn the basics.
2. VINYASA
Similar to Hatha yoga, Vinyasa teaches basic poses along with synchronised breathing for those movements. This variety of yoga focuses on the infamous Sun Salutation – a series of 12 poses where breath and movement are matched.
Besides matching movement and breath, Vinyasa aims to build lean muscle mass all over the body. It also helps to improve flexibility and strength while toning the stomach muscles and reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure.
Vinyasa is good for beginners and advanced yogis wanting to strengthen their physiques.
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3. ASHTANGA
Metaphorically, this form of yoga concentrates on eight limbs. It's a power yoga, fast-paced and rather intense with plenty of push-ups and taxing lunges. It's also a great way to improve your spiritual self, improve coordination, aid with weight loss and relieve stress.
Try Ashtanga if you're considerably fit and wanting to maintain your levels of strength and stamina while getting in touch with your spirituality.
4. Iyengar
Iyengar covers the eight aspects of Ashtanga while concentrating on correct body alignment. A variety of props like blocks, blankets and straps are used during a session to help strengthen the body. A great deal of standing exercises are held for period of time but they're ideal for alignment and strength.
Iyengar will help improve your balance, build your strength and speed up injury recovery. Beginners can give it a go, especially those with injuries want to correct their posture, balance and ease chronic medical issues like arthritis.
5. Bikram
Bikram is that hot yoga you've probably heard about. It's practised in a room that is heated to between 95 to 100 degrees and comprises 26 poses that help with loosening tight muscles through sweating. It's ideal for flushing out toxins while deeply stretching those muscles.
Bikram is great for speeding up recover from an injury and also cleansing your body while enhancing flexibility. This form of yoga is for both beginners and advanced yogis who want to challenge themselves physically and emotionally and also for those with physical injuries.
These are just 5 styles of yoga – there are a variety of others. Try out a few until you find out which suits you best.