Newcomers to yoga are often understandably confused by the seemingly endless variety of styles and may wonder which type is best for them. Most types of yoga share similar characteristics, but key differences as well. The best type of yoga for you depends greatly on your exercise and fitness needs, as well as any physical limitations you may have.
Hatha Yoga
According to the Mats Mats Mats website, in its overview of the various types of yoga, hatha yoga is the basic form that serves as the foundation of all yoga styles. Indeed, most people associate yoga with the postures and techniques of hatha yoga, according to the American Yoga Association. This basic form combines meditation, breathing and postures, or asanas, into a form of physical exercise that has gained popularity in the United States and around the world over the years. Millions of practitioners in fitness centers and recreation facilities across the country practice hatha yoga techniques and rely on them as a form of exercise that builds flexibility and reduces stress.
Power Yoga
The Mats Mats Mats website calls power yoga "yoga with brawn" and an American version of ashtanga yoga, a style that seeks to produce internal heat and sweat to detoxify the body. Popular in many fitness centers, power yoga combines the stress reduction of traditional yoga with the physical benefits of a rigorous cardio workout. Some power yoga poses are similar to basic exercises, such as push-ups, but this type of yoga involves a faster pace that builds muscles. While many other types of yoga feature pauses between postures or sequences, power yoga keeps the pace flowing, giving practitioners a vigorous physical workout.
Iyengar Yoga
B.K.S. Iyengar developed Iyengar yoga more than 60 years ago. The asanas in Iyengar Yoga emphasize precise physical alignment, often aided by equipment such as straps, blocks, blankets and cushions. Iyengar Yoga practitioners hold poses longer than in other types of yoga. Typically, an Iyengar class involves slowly settling into a pose--often with the assistance of an instructor if you are a beginner or recovering from an injury--and holding the pose for a minute or longer. Practitioners then rest briefly before beginning another posture. The Mats Mats Mats website calls Iyengar yoga beneficial for people recovering from injuries, as well as the elderly and disabled, because of its slower pace and use of equipment.
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