Yoga is becoming more and more popular in the Western world today. The number of places holding Yoga classes is on the increase and there is a plethora of different types of Yoga. With a choice of Hatha Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Power Yoga, Iyengar Yoga, Bikram Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga and many more, it can be easy to get confused.
This article will help you to understand the differences between the most popular types of Yoga, so you can choose the right type for you.
Hatha Yoga. In Sanskrit, an ancient classical language of India, “Ha” means “sun” and “tha” means “moon”. Hatha Yoga is relatively slow paced and gentle. It is a good place to start if you are new to Yoga and don’t know any of the asanas (poses). As with all types of Yoga, Hatha Yoga aims to unite the mind, body and spirit.
Ashtanga Yoga. In Sanskrit this means “eight limbs”. It is a fast moving, intense style of Yoga and is based on a progressive set sequence of asanas, synchronized with the breath. Ashtanga Yoga can be quite physically demanding as you constantly move from one asana in the sequence to the next. This will improve your stamina as well as flexibility and strength.
Power Yoga. This is a western interpretation of Yoga, based on Ashtanga Yoga. A Power Yoga class may not necessarily stick to the exact sequence of poses like Ashtanga does, but it does involve practicing a series of poses without stopping and starting.
Iyengar Yoga. This type of Yoga is based on teachings by B.K.S.Iyengar and concentrates on the correct alignment and form of the body. Unlike Ashtanga Yoga, there is an emphasis on holding each pose for a long period of time rather than moving constantly from one pose to the next. Iyengar Yoga uses props such as blocks and straps to help align the body into the different poses.
Vinyasa Yoga. Vinyasa means breath synchronized movement. It is another fast paced 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. This is known as “Hot Yoga”. This is practiced in a heated room with a high humidity. Generally a sequence of 26 different poses is practiced and the hot temperature helps to loosen muscles. Due to the high temperature, most people sweat a lot during a class and this helps to cleanse the body of toxins.
If you have never done any Yoga before, try a few different types to find out what suits you best. Remember, there is no rule that says you have to stick to one type of Yoga.
