The Most Common Types of Yoga

As there are so many different types of yoga available today, it can present a major

problem for beginners. It is of best advice to choose a form of yoga that is

appropriate for each individual's level of fitness, physical and spiritual goals and

health condition.

Some of the most common types of yoga are listed here and briefly explained in

order to assist you in choosing the best type of yoga that you can start off with.

1. Iyengar Yoga

These types of yoga are solely focused on the alignment and precise

movements. Yoga props such as blocks and straps are usually used as part of this

type of yoga for those beginners who are not as flexible as the experts as to

compensate for injuries.

These Yoga props help assist all sorts of people to be able to do the poses

comfortably.

Because of its attention to details and the flexible modification of poses, these types

of yoga is often a good form of exercise for people with back pain or neck pain, as

they are likely to benefit from the random alteration to the poses.

Practicing these types of yoga will give you a good knowledge on the classics in

yoga poses so that whatever other style you practice, you will have the basic

fundamentals on how to do each position.

In Iyengar yoga the teacher focuses more on alignment and inner awareness. This

awareness starts with the body and expands to other parts of the self as one

continues with the regularity of practice.

2. Ashtanga Yoga

These types of yoga are commonly called 'power yoga' because it is

focused on a powerful flowing movement.

Such movements include pushups and lunges, which deals with strength and

stamina. These types of yoga are best for people who have successfully overcome

back injuries and are looking for more challenging practice.

People who are already athletic such as runners, gymnasts and cyclists who want to

add more balance and concentration to their routines are also utilizing these types

of yoga.

3. Bikram Yoga

These types of yoga are also known as the 'hot yoga' for this is

done in a very warm room. These types of yoga are excellent tools for increasing

flexibility because the heat helps tissue to stretch.

But keep in mind that these types of yoga are not applicable to those that have

developed cardio vascular diseases due to the strain placed on the body when

vigorously exercising in the heat.

4. Viniyoga

These types of yoga links breathe and movement in flowing exercises that

are adapted to each individual. These are often a good form of yoga for those with

back problems or neck injuries because it can be easily adapted by anyone.

5. Raja Yoga

These types of yoga aims for liberation through meditation. These types

of yoga are only for those people who are capable of intense concentration.

6. Bhakti yoga

Or commonly known as devotional yoga. These types of yoga focus on

self surrender in the face of the divine.

7. Mantra yoga

Much more know as the "yoga of potent sound'. These types of yoga

aims at liberation through the verbal or mental repetition of empowered sounds,

such as "om", "hum", or "ram".

There are so many yoga institutions to choose from. It is also a good idea that

before going into a class, discuss with the teacher first regarding hi or her

philosophy and beliefs in order to find the most appropriate and personally

appealing form of yoga for you.

© Copyright Melvin Chua, All Rights Reserved.

Melvin has dozens more related articles and tips on doing yoga at his site: doing yoga [http://www.doing-yoga.com], check them out today!

The Different Types of Yoga - An Introduction to The Most Common Yoga Styles

Yoga is a training system for body and mind that can be traced back more than 5000 years. It focuses on what is here and now and on being present. Therefore yoga has become more popular than ever - it brings back focus on the present, in a world that is constantly changing and where humans are often focusing on the future instead of the present. There are many different types of yoga and they are all a development of the ancient form. However, as a beginner it can be very difficult to know which type of yoga to try out with. Only by trying different styles, you can find out which one suit you better. Therefore, this article will provide you with a brief overview of some of the most common types of yoga.

Hatha

The classical Hatha yoga consists of the original physical postures and breathing exercises, usually done in a calm and relaxed pace with pauses between the positions. Most of the yoga types performed in the West are inspired by Hatha, and they all vary in their shape in terms of 'asanas' - the natural positions - and their focus on breathing and meditation. The focus of Hatha is typically to perform the classic posts properly in accordance with the body's abilities. 'Ha' means in Sanskrit 'sun' while 'tha' means 'moon'. Hatha represents the duality in life - yin and yang, masculine and feminine, darkness and light. Hatha Yoga tries to balance these opposing forces.

Vinyasa

Vinyasa yoga is more dynamic than Hatha yoga since the yoga exercises are performed at a fast pace without long breaks between them in a flow. The name Vinyasa refers to the movement respiratory system, and it is about the relationship of the breath and the movements.During the practise of Vinyasa yoga much heat is formed in the body and therefore the body produces a lot of waste through sweat.

Astanga

Astanga yoga is a very physically challenging type of yoga, and provides good training for strength, flexibility and endurance. Astanga yoga consists of a series of yoga exercises performed in a flow without a break in between. In Astanga Yoga, the breathing must be coordinated with the movements as in Vinyasa Yoga.

Yin

Yin yoga is developed by Paul Grilley, and is a tranquil type of yoga, which focuses on deep stretching and balancing of the body. In Yin Yoga positions are held for a long time. Yin yoga combines wisdom from Taoism and Chinese acupuncture with the Indian yoga philosophy.

Power

Power yoga is based on Astanga yoga and for those who want a vigorous workout. This type of yoga is often seen in gyms and fitness centers. Even though it is based on Astanga yoga, it is often a mixture of many different types of yoga, forming a very dynamic yoga class.

Iyengar

Iyengar Yoga was developed by B.K.S. Iyengar - one of the most known yoga teachers in the world. In the physical positions there is a strong emphasis on detail and on body position and straight lines. Another characteristic of this yoga style is that it frequently uses tools such as blocks and belts. In Iyengar yoga, each position is often held for a long time, and the breathing deepens the effect of each position.

Tri

Tri Yoga is a trinity of physical poses, breathing, and focus on a combination of flow and static positions. Characteristic of this type of yoga is the use of wave-like backbone movements and breathing exercises. The founder Kali Ray has created seven levels of severity and meditative content.

Sivananda

Sivananda yoga is a gentle form of yoga and recommends a healthy vegetarian lifestyle and positive thinking and meditation. This yoga style was founded by Swami Vishnu-devananda. A Sivananda yoga class also consists of chanting, meditation and deep relaxation.

Kundalini

Kundalini yoga includes physical exercise but is concentrated on breathing exercises and chanting. The purpose is to awaken the kundalini energy located at the bottom of the spine and help it to move up along the spine through the body's chakras in order to reach your head and give a strong spiritual experience. Kundalini is very powerful and should only be exercised in collaboration with an experienced teacher.

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Common Styles of Hatha Yoga

Yoga is an important component of my healthy lifestyle. For me, a balanced healthy diet is about more than just what I eat and includes all aspects of my life. If you are interested in giving yoga a try, keep in mind that yoga, like healthy eating, is not one size fits all. There are many different styles of hatha yoga being taught today from slow, gentle, and alignment-focused to fast, flowing, and athletically-challenging with everything in between. Some styles of yoga consist of doing the same series or sequence of postures every time; others offer classes that are always different.

It may take a little searching to find the type of yoga and teaching style that is best for you. Here's an introduction to some of the more common styles of hatha yoga to help you get started.

Anusara Yoga

Anusara is a Sanskrit (Ancient Indian) word that means 'flowing with grace.' This relatively new style of hatha yoga focuses on attitude, alignment, and action. It's designed to be spiritually inspiring while focusing on proper biomechanics to keep you safe. Classes tend to include lots of flowery language (such as 'melt your heart with gratitude'), attention to alignment detail, and demonstrations of how to properly execute poses. While some may not be comfortable with the use of Sanskrit language and flowery metaphors, many find it motivating and uplifting. The focus on body alignment, proper body mechanics, and doing poses safely has allowed me to keep myself safe in a variety of other types of yoga classes.

Ashtanga Yoga

Ashtanga yoga is a vigorous athletic style of hatha yoga that consists of set series of postures of increasing difficulty done in a fast paced flowing manner. This type of yoga is probably best suited for fit individuals looking for a rigorous, challenging workout. Power yoga is derived from Ashtanga.

Bikram Yoga

An athletic type of yoga where a set sequence of 26 poses is performed in an intensely heated and humidified room. Teachers often challenge you to push yourself harder and harder. Bikram yoga provides a vigorous, intense, sweaty workout for those looking for a challenge.

Iyengar Yoga

Iyengar yoga is another one of the types of yoga that emphasizes precise muscular and skeletal alignment. Lots of yoga gear and props are used -- like blocks, straps, blankets and bolsters to help you modify the poses to meet your abilities. This is one of the yoga styles perfect for those who love precision and detail and is widely taught throughout the US. It provides a good foundation and is appropriate for all ages and abilities.

Kripalu Yoga

Kripalu yoga is referred to as yoga of consciousness. This yoga style puts great emphasis on proper breath, alignment, coordinating breath and movement, and "honoring the wisdom of the body." You are encouraged to work according to the limits of your individual flexibility and strength.

Kundalini Yoga

Kundalini yoga combines yoga poses, breathing exercises, meditation and chanting with the intention of awakening your kundalini or serpent power that is believed to lie dormant at the base of your spine. There is a lot more focus on breathing exercises and less attention to postural alignment detail than with some other forms of hatha yoga.

Viniyoga

Viniyoga is a gentle form of hatha yoga that emphasizes function over form with lots of attention on coordinating movement with breath. Poses are often modified to accommodate your individual needs and physical limitations. Many Viniyoga teachers also provide yoga therapy in which individualized yoga programs to help heal injuries and illnesses are prescribed.

Vinyasa

'Flow Yoga' or vinyasa hatha yoga offers a lot of variations. It is usually fast paced and challenging with lots of music and creativity in sequencing of the yoga poses with focus on connecting movement with breath. Vinyasa or 'flow' classes are very popular on yoga studio class schedules at the moment. These aren't the best classes for beginners since some familiarity with poses is required.

Yogafit

Yogafit is one of the styles of yoga often offered in gyms and health clubs. Yogafit classes follow the standard fitness class structure of warm-up, workout and cool down. Many Yogafit teachers are also certified as group fitness instructor and/or personal trainers. Yogafit classes are designed to offer a fitness-based, accessible, user-friendly approach to yoga, free of sanskrit terms and chanting, but may be too vigorous if you are suffering from serious health concerns.

Martha McKinnon is a health coach and yoga instructor who believes that eating great & losing weight can be simple & delicious. If you are tired of struggling and are ready to love yourself to health & happiness, she can help. Her websites include http://www.simple-nourished-living.com and http://www.nourishing-yoga.com.

Let's Take A Look At Some Of The More Common Branches Of Yoga

Yoga has been practiced for over two thousand years, so it's inevitable that over such a long period of time variations and divergences have occurred. Nowadays there are many different yoga practices and branches available to choose from. Each one serves a different need or purpose, but they all tend to have one main purpose - to harmonize and identify the equilibrium between body and mind. Let's take a look at some of the more common branches of yoga.

Hatha Yoga

One of the main aims of hatha yoga is to increase your state of well being. It's considered to be a primary form of modern physical therapy. It teaches meditation, which has consistent with across all branches of yoga. Hatha yoga also focuses on teaching a series of important postures, referred to in yoga terminology as asanas, and practicing breathing exercises, called pranayamas.

Karma Yoga

You've probably come across the word karma before, and know that it is a principle that states that everything that happens to us in our current existence is directly caused by our previous actions. Because of this, one of the main purposes of karma yoga is teaching practitioners how to eliminate all the selfishness and negativity from their current life, so that they won't have to deal with the consequences in the future. Karma is something that should be practiced every day, whether at work or home, and there are many activities you can participate in that have the goal of helping other people and so fit well with the karma yoga journey.

Raja Yoga

The focus of raja yoga is meditation, and it is often referred to as classical yoga. This is quite a complex method of yoga training, and it's quite common for practitioners to start with hatha yoga, to prepare the body, before moving on to the more advanced training in raja yoga. Most of the people who are attracted to raja yoga are quite introspective, and interested in learning profound meditation. There are a number of religious groups that devote themselves to this yoga path, as it is closely aligned to a monastic or contemplative lifestyle.

Jnana Yoga

This branch of yoga is mostly of interest to scholars, as it focuses on the development of the intellect by studying traditional yoga scripts and texts. It's generally considered to be the yoga of the heart and wisdom. It's often described as being the most difficult of all yoga practices, but in some ways jnana yoga is one of the more challenging and direct paths.

Bhakti Yoga

This is another popular form of yoga, and it promotes and sustains the idea of devotion. Bhakti yoga is dedicated to the belief that any form of creation has something divine about it. So a respect, acceptance and tolerance of all forms of life is an important element of every interaction throughout life.

These are only some of the main branches of yoga; there are certainly many, many more that you can follow. The good thing is that with so many variations of yoga, it's possible to find a yoga practice that will closely align with your own goals and needs, and help you to find inner peace and equilibrium.

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Common Styles of Hatha Yoga

Yoga is an important component of my healthy lifestyle. For me, a balanced healthy diet is about more than just what I eat and includes all aspects of my life. If you are interested in giving yoga a try, keep in mind that yoga, like healthy eating, is not one size fits all. There are many different styles of hatha yoga being taught today from slow, gentle, and alignment-focused to fast, flowing, and athletically-challenging with everything in between. Some styles of yoga consist of doing the same series or sequence of postures every time; others offer classes that are always different.

It may take a little searching to find the type of yoga and teaching style that is best for you. Here's an introduction to some of the more common styles of hatha yoga to help you get started.

Anusara Yoga

Anusara is a Sanskrit (Ancient Indian) word that means 'flowing with grace.' This relatively new style of hatha yoga focuses on attitude, alignment, and action. It's designed to be spiritually inspiring while focusing on proper biomechanics to keep you safe. Classes tend to include lots of flowery language (such as 'melt your heart with gratitude'), attention to alignment detail, and demonstrations of how to properly execute poses. While some may not be comfortable with the use of Sanskrit language and flowery metaphors, many find it motivating and uplifting. The focus on body alignment, proper body mechanics, and doing poses safely has allowed me to keep myself safe in a variety of other types of yoga classes.

Ashtanga Yoga

Ashtanga yoga is a vigorous athletic style of hatha yoga that consists of set series of postures of increasing difficulty done in a fast paced flowing manner. This type of yoga is probably best suited for fit individuals looking for a rigorous, challenging workout. Power yoga is derived from Ashtanga.

Bikram Yoga

An athletic type of yoga where a set sequence of 26 poses is performed in an intensely heated and humidified room. Teachers often challenge you to push yourself harder and harder. Bikram yoga provides a vigorous, intense, sweaty workout for those looking for a challenge.

Iyengar Yoga

Iyengar yoga is another one of the types of yoga that emphasizes precise muscular and skeletal alignment. Lots of yoga gear and props are used -- like blocks, straps, blankets and bolsters to help you modify the poses to meet your abilities. This is one of the yoga styles perfect for those who love precision and detail and is widely taught throughout the US. It provides a good foundation and is appropriate for all ages and abilities.

Kripalu Yoga

Kripalu yoga is referred to as yoga of consciousness. This yoga style puts great emphasis on proper breath, alignment, coordinating breath and movement, and "honoring the wisdom of the body." You are encouraged to work according to the limits of your individual flexibility and strength.

Kundalini Yoga

Kundalini yoga combines yoga poses, breathing exercises, meditation and chanting with the intention of awakening your kundalini or serpent power that is believed to lie dormant at the base of your spine. There is a lot more focus on breathing exercises and less attention to postural alignment detail than with some other forms of hatha yoga.

Viniyoga

Viniyoga is a gentle form of hatha yoga that emphasizes function over form with lots of attention on coordinating movement with breath. Poses are often modified to accommodate your individual needs and physical limitations. Many Viniyoga teachers also provide yoga therapy in which individualized yoga programs to help heal injuries and illnesses are prescribed.

Vinyasa

'Flow Yoga' or vinyasa hatha yoga offers a lot of variations. It is usually fast paced and challenging with lots of music and creativity in sequencing of the yoga poses with focus on connecting movement with breath. Vinyasa or 'flow' classes are very popular on yoga studio class schedules at the moment. These aren't the best classes for beginners since some familiarity with poses is required.

Yogafit

Yogafit is one of the styles of yoga often offered in gyms and health clubs. Yogafit classes follow the standard fitness class structure of warm-up, workout and cool down. Many Yogafit teachers are also certified as group fitness instructor and/or personal trainers. Yogafit classes are designed to offer a fitness-based, accessible, user-friendly approach to yoga, free of sanskrit terms and chanting, but may be too vigorous if you are suffering from serious health concerns.

Martha McKinnon is a health coach and yoga instructor who believes that eating great & losing weight can be simple & delicious. If you are tired of struggling and are ready to love yourself to health & happiness, she can help. Her websites include http://www.simple-nourished-living.com and http://www.nourishing-yoga.com.