Yoga has been practiced as both a spiritual and physical activity for over 5,000 years, and is growing in popularity today as more people realize its health benefits. The website Yoga Central reports that more than 30 million people practice yoga regularly.
Hatha Yoga
This form of yoga focuses on slow and gentle movements. The website Health Kicker notes that Hatha yoga is good for beginners who aren't familiar with some of the more complex poses incorporated in some of the more advanced styles. Stanford University's Wellsphere website notes that Hatha yoga focuses on breathing exercises, making it a beneficial activity to practice before bed.
Bikram Yoga
This style of yoga is often called "hot yoga" because it is practiced commonly in a room that has been heated to 105 degrees, according to both HealthKicker and Wellsphere. There are 26 poses in Bikram yoga, and practitioners suggest that the hot temperature and practiced poses help restore flexibility and loosen tight muscles. The Stanford website suggests that due to the low number of poses Bikram yoga is also a good place for beginners to begin their yoga training.
Ashtanga Yoga
Ashtanga yoga is a more complex style of yoga practice and is based on combining proper breathing with poses that increasingly become more difficult. Health Kicker says that Ashtanga yoga can be very demanding for beginners but can also be a great way to improve strength and endurance.
Vinyasa Yoga
Vinyasa yoga is also a fast-paced style of yoga that incorporates different poses with proper breathing exercises. This yoga style balances each pose with a counter pose while synchronizing your breathing to the movements. Wellsphere notes that this form of yoga incorporates more variety than other styles.
Power Yoga
Power yoga is more modern than other yoga styles, and is ideal for athletes, Wellsphere says. Power yoga is based on Ashtanga yoga, but allows for more variety than the traditional ashtanga yoga class.
Iyengar Yoga
Iyengar yoga places more focus on holding the proper alignment of your body by using props to help the practitioner ensure proper form of movement. In this type yogic poses are held for longer periods of time than in other types of yoga.
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