With the development of our society, there is a trend that more and more people, especially some modern women, have realized of the importance of Yoga. Yes, nowadays, Yoga has become a way of our daily life and many people tend to pay more attention to the relationship between Yoga and their health.
However, if you a newbie at the area of Yoga, you may not know the fact that there are many different styles of yoga that are practiced and you should choose one following your needs. For example, if you just want to follow the fashion, your choice must be some quite popular styles; Some people try to lose weight with Yoga training while others just want to improve their strength and balance. If you haven’t gotten familiar with Yoga but want to enjoy a better life with the help of it, then here is a detailed guide to the basic styles of Yoga:
Ashtanga Yoga
Ashtanga Yoga is a traditional style of yoga. As far as I know, if you a beginner at Yoga, then you can try it indeed. Mainly, it focuses on the flow of postures in order to improve strength, stamina and flexibility of the body. The idea is to create heat inside the body to burn off toxins, release tight muscles and joints, and focus your mind. If you are interested in improving your strength, flexibility and stamina and you are fit enough to deal with an hour of jumping from one posture to another, Asthanga Yoga can suit you.
However, according to some studies, Ashtanga Yoga is not the ideal for beginners because people who are not well fit may find it too difficult and demanding. So, you can decide whether it is your first your choice through your personal needs.
Bikram Yoga
Nowadays, This style of Yoga is very popular in the Chicago area.
As a modern form that was developed in Los Angeles, it is often practiced in a heated environment for increased circulation. Usually, it is practiced in a heated room with the temperature at approximately 105°F and the humidity set to 40%. This focuses on muscular strength, endurance and cardio exercises.
Hatha Yoga
The word Hatha is a compound of the words Ha and Tha meaning sun and moon. Hatha yoga originally meant the physical practice of yoga. It meant doing the pose, vs. doing the breathing exercises called pranayama or following the philosophical or ethical practices of some styles of yoga.
If you see a class described as Hatha, it will likely be a slow-paced stretching class with some simple breathing exercises and perhaps seated meditation.
Power Yoga
Power Yoga is hugely popular in health clubs and among athletes, which is closely modeled on the Ashtanga style of practice. This kind of Yoga focuses on strengthening the body by performing Hatha Yoga postures for a longer time to improve both physical flexibility and mental focus. So, if you want to lose weight easily and healthily, this is your best choice.
Vini Yoga
Compared with Iyengar Yoga (a form of Hatha Yoga), Vini Yoga has a more relaxed approach to placement of the body.
Generally speaking, it focuses on how your breath moves through your body and affects each pose. As a therapeutically oriented yoga, this style Yoga was more effective than traditional exercise or a patient education book for improving function and pain in patients with chronic low back pain.
Simple Answer to the Question – What is Yoga?
This activity seems fresh and new, invented in the late nineties, but it has, at least, 3000 years old, when it was created in India. The term yoga comes from word in Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages on the east, and it means to unite body, mind and spirit.
Yoga is much more than just physical activity, where this exercise is just one of the components of the lifestyle that is yoga. The main objectives of this lifestyle are to train your body, mind, breath and connect all this components with your spirit.
That physical activity that everybody knows as yoga is called Hatha. This Hatha is based on poses or Asanas. The person goes through some specific poses, and in the same time controls his breathing. In some cases there is also meditation and chants. Yoga is not a simple activity, as there are a lot of Hatha different types that I will list below:
– The type of yoga where the practitioners focuses on precise body alignment during the poses is called Iyengar. Is normal to use accessories like blankets, straps, blocks or chairs.
– When people focus more in slow stretches, deep breathing and flexibility, this is called Gentle yoga.
– Bikram, also known as Hot yoga, is practiced in very heated rooms, up to 100º F, focusing in purification and stamina.
– Restoractive relaxes the body completely by going through simple still poses for big periods of time.
– The point of Ashtanga is to build strength, stamina, flexibility and concentration. It is based on vigorous moves through predetermined poses, very focused on the breathing.
– Vinyasa, also known as Power yoga, is very similar to the Ashtanga, as they the two very vigorous types of yoga, focused on strength, flexibility and stamina. This type of yoga is very practiced in the US.
As you can see, yoga can change your life. It is an activity full of benefits since strength, flexibility, stamina and balance. More than these benefits, yoga is a very healthy lifestyle. People claim that it good for your sleep, anxiety and stress and even improves your mind.
How to Control Stress With Yoga ?
Though yoga originated in India as a religious practice, it has evolved into different forms of discipline. When chosen as exercise, it can benefit almost everybody.
The term is a derivation of a Sanskrit word that means union. In its more common usage, the term refers to the poses or asanas that are one of the means to achieving a sense of well being. The poses combine stretching with controlled breathing. There may also be meditative segments and guided imagery.
The key to benefiting is to establish a practice or regular routine. Flexibility and fitness are not required since there are modifications available. As strength grows, practitioners can move into more difficult variations and further increase the suppleness of the muscles. Classes are available in many places including community centers, health clubs, and yoga studios. Very little special equipment is required.
There are several branches. They emphasize different types of poses as well as variations in intensity. Finding the form that feels right on one’s body can take time but is well worth the effort. A good version to try first is Hatha. Its pace is slower and its poses are relatively easy.
Studies have shown that yoga may help limit the effects of certain conditions like asthma and PMS. However, it is also very well suited to reducing stress and anxiety. With a consistent practice, at each session, the body becomes both relaxed and energized. It may be the controlled breathing that targets stress best. Focusing on the breath takes the mind away from other worries.
Here is one asana anyone can try now as long as the back is healthy. It is called the cat pose. It increases familiarity with the body’s center and helps with coordinating movement and breathing. Begin on all fours, preferably on a padded surface so that there will be less pressure on the knees. Make sure the hands are straight down from the shoulders and the knees are straight down from the hips. Rock forward and back gently to find the place where the spine is straight and the body is balanced. Inhale. On the exhale, pull the abdominal muscles up and curve the spine. Drop the head so there is a single semi-circular line running from the base of the spine to the top of the head. Inhale and release the pose.
Developing a yoga practice requires commitment and discipline. However, it is well worth the effort. Not only will the body become stronger and more flexible, the mind will be more relaxed and resilient.
