There are many different styles of yoga that are taught and practiced in modern times. Yoga practitioners range from high-powered corporate chiefs to popular actors. Corporate executives focus on the mental benefits yoga provides, while athletes seek the sense of physical balance, flexibility and strength that yoga enables them to develop. Different styles of yoga are best suited for different kinds of people.
Types
There are many types of yoga, including vinyasa-style yoga practices, which combine a series of postures that are linked together with breathing. Examples of vinyasa styles of yoga include Ashtanga, Power Yoga, Jivamukti, Kali Ray TriYogi and White Lotus yoga. Some yoga styles focus more on attention to detail, such as Iyengar. Viniyoga and Integrative Yoga Therapy focus on healing. Yet other styles like Sivananda, Integral, Kundalini, Anusara, Kripalu and Ananda emphasize the spiritual goal of yoga, which is enlightenment.
Features
Vinyasa yoga features a vigorous sequence of yoga postures that are coordinated and threaded together using the breath as a tool. Iyengar yoga uses a lot of props to help practitioners feel the proper alignment of their muscles and body parts in each pose. Healing yoga styles focus on gentler postures, specialized breathing techniques for particular issues and guided imagery; they are tailored to the unique needs of the practitioner more than other styles of yoga. Spiritually focused yoga types focus more on helping you develop your yoga practice into a more wholesome lifestyle.
Benefits
Each style of yoga offers different benefits. Vinyasa yoga helps develop your body in a more athletic way by providing you a challenging physical workout. Iyengar yoga's emphasis on alignment helps you prevent injury while practicing. Healing styles of yoga help relieve the body of things like back pain and headaches, while easing mental depression, anxiety and stress. Yoga styles that are spiritually focused help practitioners understand themselves and their purpose in life more clearly.
Considerations
It is important for beginner students to take into consideration what their needs are when they decide to learn yoga. People seeking a good physical workout will benefit more from vinyasa yoga types, while those on a spiritual quest for enlightenment would benefit from the Sivananda or Kundalini types. People looking for a way to relieve back pain will benefit from healing yoga.
Warning
Regardless of what yoga type appeals to you, it is important to begin practicing yoga with a qualified instructor to prevent getting injured. Increase the intensity of the practice slowly, as it is easy to aggravate the body and injure it if one is not mindful.
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