Before reading about the different types of yoga and their benefits, you should know that there are more common to the yoga practices than there are differences.
After all, the practices aim to give you a chance to become quiet with yourself, while exploring and getting to know yourself more.
They teach you the techniques of breathing and moving in your body.
They also promote presence, mindfulness, and ways to be more self-aware.
It’s already a good thing to choose Yoga to enhance your life quality. It’s even better if you find the style that suits you the most.
In this article, let’s discuss the most common practices of Yoga in the modern world.
There are many different types of yoga
In the yoga world out there, there is a myriad of variations, styles, and combinations.
Some practices are directly tied to the tradition of Indian gurus, while others were started by American Yoga teachers.
While some practice emphasizes spirituality, others work to tone and sculpt your body.
All of them make you feel better in one way or another. And they all are valid. You can choose one based on where you want your well-being to improve.
There is no one particular style of yoga that is superior to another. What matters is having a way to incorporate yoga into your life. The more you are involved with yoga, the better you will be.
Below, we will discuss eight different types of yoga and their benefits.
1. Hata Yoga
This one comprises breathing and fairly gentle movements. This makes it compatible for beginners, and the ones who wish to learn the gentler, more laid-back side of yoga.
This is not to say that Hatha Yoga won’t challenge you. It will bring a lot of progress to your physical and mental health. However, in comparison to other forms of yoga, it’s a little bit less intense and physical.
Main benefits: Stress Relief, Spirituality, Flexibility.
2. Ashtanga yoga
Ashtanga means physical, which is inherent in the activities found in this form. It is great for fitness, strength training, and weight loss. If you attend a class for Ashtanga, the instructor will be less likely to emphasize spirituality or meditation.
Main benefits: Weight loss, strength training.
3. Bikram Yoga (Hot Yoga)
The room is heated to around 105 degrees Fahrenheit in Bikram classes. The idea is to activate the sweating process and help you release toxins from the pores on your skin. The high heat will also warm the muscle, making your body more flexible than the other types can.
Bikram Yoga is able to let you blend in the mutual energy of the whole class. In recent years, this particular form of Yoga has risen to fame, and therefore you can expect to meet a lot of like-minded yogis that love sweating.
Main benefits: Weight Loss, Detox, Spirituality
4. Kundalini Yoga
At the base of the human spine, there is a source of energy that is called Kundalini energy. This practice of yoga is said to be able to awaken this energy source and rise it through your body. The practitioner will benefit greatly from this process.
Kundalini allows chakras and energy healing to do their work. It also involves chanting and meditation. Therefore, this form of yoga will awake the spiritual parts in you that you may never know before.
Main benefits: Spirituality, Healing, Stress Relief
5. Iyengar yoga
In an Iyengar yoga class, the instructor will guide you through many poses while making you focus on breath control. Because the main idea of this practice is to practice control through breathing, you will be instructed to hold your poses for a long time, while the instructor adjusts your posture.
This particular type of yoga is great for correcting your form, while let you go deeper in each pose safely and steadily. There won’t be a lot of cardiovascular work, but you’ll feel like you’ve had a great workout nonetheless. Iyengar yoga is also recommended for people with injuries and physical difficulties.
Main benefits: Posture, Body Healing, Mental Strength
6. Vinyasa Yoga
Vinyasa is easily one of the most athletic yoga practices. It is, in fact, a branch of Ashtanga yoga, with the only difference being that the movements are tied to the breath. The Vinyasa flow is commonly used to enhance different types of yoga and their benefits.
Main benefits: Posture, Breath Control, Stress Relief
7. Yin Yoga
Yin Yoga is especially suited for beginners because it is slow-paced. Most of the movements involve a seated posture that is kept for a longer period of time. Each pose will last for any span of time from 45 seconds to two minutes. That makes Yin Yoga more of a meditation exercise than a physical workout.
Main benefits: Spirituality, Posture, Stress Relief.
8. Prenatal Yoga
This is not a traditional form of yoga, but more of a tailored program for moms-to-be. Women in their trimesters really dote on this practice for the pelvic floor work, breathing exercises, and bonding with the baby.
Main benefit: For better prenatal labor and delivery.
How to choose a style of yoga to suit you
If you are considering dabbling in the world of yoga, or want to transition from a practice you are doing to another, then consider the main benefits that you wish to gain from the class. The extent of physical, mental, and spiritual that you wish to involve is important, too.
However, there is always a trade-off. A class that offers intense physical workouts won’t be able to bring you a lot of inward growth and focus, and the other way around.
Many yoga centers offer trial periods for their classes, so you can always try before settling into one style.
Happiness awaits with yoga
It is nice to be able to identify what you like and what you do not like, then choose the one yoga practice that you dote on, or proceed with another form that might be more suited for you. The amount of yoga opportunities for you out there is unlimited.
There are many different types of yoga and their benefits all contribute to a better version of yourself. The most important is that you jump right in. Because the quicker you explore, the more you can identify which one you want to stick with.
