With so many different types of yoga to choose from it can be a little bit
confusing for beginners. Before deciding on which type of yoga is best
for you it's a good idea to consider the different types of yoga, your
level of fitness, physical and spiritual goals as well as your overall health
condition.
Today were going to go over some of the most common types of yoga
to help you determine which type will work best for your lifestyle.
Iyenga yoga, which is considered one of the most common types of
yoga focuses on alignment, breathing and performing precise poses.
This type of yoga often incorporates props such as straps or blocks to
help beginners. Props help new students relax and become more
comfortable while holding various different positions.
Ashtanga yoga, often referred to as power yoga is known for its
powerful movements like lunges and pushups, which focus on building
stamina and strength. This challenging form of yoga is most often
practiced by athletes on the quest for better balance and concentration.
Bhakti Yoga, if a more spiritual form of yoga that teaches its
practitioners respect for life nature and creation as well as the
importance of treating others with kindness and generosity.
Hatha Yoga, another common form of yoga especially in the United
States emphasizes physical postures or exercises, known as asanas,
with the goal of creating balance in one's life.
Jnana Yoga, involves the practice of deep contemplation and a quest
for wisdom through meditation. With the ultimate goal of being one with
God.
Karma Yoga, is based on the philosophy that "yesterday's actions
determine today's circumstances." Practitioners of Karma yoga make
a conscious decision to perform selfless acts of kindness. By making
today's actions positive, they hope they can improve tomorrow's
circumstances for both themselves and others.
Raja Yoga, known in India as road to reintegration, blends the four
layers of self; the body, individual consciousness, individual
subconsciousness, and the universal infinite consciousness. the main
focus of this type of yoga is on the mind and spirit with emphasis on
meditation.
Tantra Yoga, similar to Hatha yoga involves practitioners to seek
balance in their lives and to break free from the six enemies; physical
longing, anger, greed, vanity, obsession, jealousy as well as the eight
fetters; hatred, apprehension, fear, shyness, hypocrisy, pride of
ancestry, vanity of culture, egotism, by using discipline, training, and
rituals.
Bikram yoga, often referred to as hot yoga, involves practicing yoga
postures in rooms heated to over 100° Fahrenheit (37.8° Celsius).
The belief behind this type of yoga is that postures are easier to attain
and hold. Another benefit is that warm muscles help reduce the risk of
injury. If you have a health condition, be sure to check with your health
care provider before attempting this form of yoga.
Kundalini yoga, the premise behind this type of yoga is that becoming
aware of your breath is a key. Practitioners learn to use their breathing
abilities in different ways, along with chants, meditation, and postures
designed to awaken energy at your spine’s base and drawing it upward
through the seven chakras.
Viniyoga, this is perhaps the most individualized form of yoga, and
involves working closely with an instructor, who will customize
Your workouts designed for your special needs.
Regardless of what type of yoga you decide to practice, be sure to
consult with your healthcare provider first to see if there are any special
considerations or restrictions you should follow. For example, people
who suffer from hypertension may need to avoid certain poses, while
women who are pregnant may have other limitations.
Make sure you look for your next issue soon. We will be talking about
the practice of good yoga posture.
Namaste,
Your Friends at Mala Prayer