Which Types of Yoga Should You Choose?

Yoga benefits people a lot, it develops inner awareness, focuses your attention on your body’s abilities at the present moment. Also it helps develop breath and strength of mind and body. If you feel confused by all the different classes at your local yoga studio? Read on to get introduction of different types of yoga and their benefits.

A premier on types of yoga

Today, there are a multitude of approaches to modern yoga, including Kripalu, Kundalini, Iyengar, Ashtanga, Sivananda, Bikram yoga, most still maintain the three core elements of Patañjali’s practice: physical postures, breathing exercises, and spiritual contemplation. 

Despite the fact that most forms of yoga practice share similarities, knowing the difference can help you get started on the right direction, fit your practice to your priorities and physical condition, expand your awareness and make your yoga practice more rewarding and satisfying. The same principal applies to picking proper yoga wear, which help boost your performance during practice.

Iyengar

Iyengar Yoga is a form of yoga exercise with a focus on the structural alignment of the physical body through the practice of asanas. It differs from other types of yoga in three ways: 

1. Precision is sought in body alignment in every pose
2. The sequences of poses are practiced is deemed important in achieving the desired result.
3. Iyengar Yoga incorporates the use of props and designs suitable measures to assist practitioners, such as cushions, benches, blocks, straps, sand bags and else.

Iyengar Yoga may not offer as intense a cardiovascular experience as Bikram yoga or Ashtanga practice, it is suitable for beginners who may enjoy assistance with more challenging poses.

Ashtanga

Ashtanga yoga is a very dynamic form of hatha yoga, made up of six series or levels, with a fixed order of postures. Comparing with other types of yoga, Ashtanga is known to be strenuous, so it is great for people that are looking for a good workout. It can increase your stamina, bone density and muscle strength, control your bodyweight, lowers your blood pressure and relieve stress.

Ashtanga yoga is a good option for those seeking physical gains from yoga practice, as well as suitable for those who are fit and flexible enough to link poses in rapid succession.

Kundalini Yoga

Kundalini yoga is a form of yoga that incorporating chanting, singing, breathing exercises, and repetitive poses. Different from other types of yoga, the purpose of Kundalini yoga is to activate your Kundalini energy, which is said to be a spiritual energy that is located at the base of your spine. 

Kundalini yoga practice aims to activate this energy through breath, poses, chanting and meditation. Several forms of breathing techniques are used to clear the system and allow energy to flow into the chakras, or energy centers located in the body.

Kundalini yoga is an intense practice among all types of yoga, but both its physical and mental benefits make it a great option for beginners and advanced yogis alike. If you are a fan of a holistic form of yoga that applies to all aspects of life instead of solely focus on fitness, pick Kundalini yoga.

Sivananda Yoga

Sivananda yoga involves a mixture of breathing exercises and poses, centering around 12 yoga poses. The asana system is fairly fixed, so you must enjoy working slowly and methodically to fully master the prescribed poses, which is very different from other types of yoga.

This type of yoga is suitable for people of all fitness levels, as Sivananda yoga emphasis on working slowly and methodically towards mastering the yoga asanas.

Bikram Yoga

Bikram Yoga is a system of hot yoga, unlike other types of yoga, it is practiced in a room heated to 105 °F (41 °C) with a humidity of 40%. Bikram yoga builds strength and tone muscles, as well as sculpting your body. And, of course, you can’t forget about the heavy sweating. Although it may seem unpleasant, the high heat helps to open pores and accelerate the detox process of your system.

Additionally, Bikram yoga has been shown to reduce the amount of cortisol (a steroid hormone, increased cortisol is released into your bloodstream when you are stressed) that gets released, which, in most cases, results in reduced stress levels for practitioners

Yogis who aim for improving lower body strength, lower and upper body range of motion, and balance, who are enthusiastic for action-oriented, high-endurance fitness routine, compared with other types of yoga, Bikram yoga is your best choice.