Yoga is mainly identified in the U.S. as a physical exercise. Most Americans practice yoga to help reduce stress and become stronger from the more athletic styles of yoga. Yoga has several styles, and the more athletic styles, including ashtanga, lyengar, bikram, hot yoga and vinyasa. All can provide a workout.
Physical Postures a Preparation for Meditation
All forms of hatha yoga, meaning physical postures, were traditionally done as a prelude to a formal sitting meditation practice. Hatha yoga refers to any kind of physical yoga practice and was seen as a way to keep the body fit and light so you could comfortably sit in a seated posture for breath work and extended seated meditation. While some yoga traditionalists may contest that the physical practice of yoga asanas, or postures, is not meant to be a workout, it can be physically demanding.
Yamas and Niyamas: Philosophy
Many people are introduced to yoga practice through the physical postures and might later be interested in learning about its other aspects. For example, yamas or niyamas are ethical guidelines on how one can behave and interact with others to help cultivate self-awareness and foster harmony. A well-known yama is ahimsa, or nonviolence in thought, word or deed to yourself or others.
Ashtanga and Iyengar Yoga
Athletic styles of yoga styles can provide a workout, if that is your priority. Ashtanga yoga practice as taught by Sri Pattabhi Jois, of Mysore, India, is vigorous and heating because it uses ujjayi, or victorious breath. This kind of yoga includes sun and moon salutations, which are a series of yoga postures that are done continuously. Bikram yoga is a set sequence of 26 postures that are repeated twice in a heated room. "Power" yoga is based on Asthanga and "hot yoga" on Bikram yoga, named after Choudrary Bikram, its founder.
Specific Health Benefits
Other styles of yoga are not as physically demanding but will provide benefits in other ways. Iyengar yoga uses props such as belts, blocks, rope wall, folding chairs, bolster and yoga blanket to help you move into or sustain poses. This kind of practice, named after B.K.S. Iyengar, is often used to treat specific health issues. For example, Iyengar has designed sequences to address depression. These include back-bending and forward-bending poses.
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