Which Yoga Style Is Best For Your Body?

There are many styles of Yoga that are practiced throughout the world today. Whatever style of Yoga you practice, you can improve the strength, flexibility and balance of your body. However, in order to receive the maximum benefit from Yoga, you should choose a style that best meets your health needs. The secret to connecting with your mind, body and soul through Yoga is to match your health needs with the appropriate Yoga style. We will look at some of the styles to give you an idea of what each one involves. You should try different styles to find out what works best for you. Also be sure to check with your doctor if you have any health condition.

Hatha Yoga

Hatha is a general term used for the physical side of Yoga. If the class you are looking into is described as Hatha style, it will be a gentle, slow-paced class. It will give you a basic instruction on Yoga poses. This gentle style is recommended for beginners. It’s best to learn the basics before going on to other Yoga styles.

Vinyasa Yoga

Vinyasa is a description of many types of classes. These classes deal with breath-synchronized movements. It aims to synchronize movement and breath to achieve balance in the mind and body. It is a little more vigorous than the Hatha style and is more intense.

Ashtanga Yoga

Ashtanga is an interesting style of Yoga that is a series of poses always done in the same order. This class is physically demanding because you are moving from one pose to another. It’s also called Power Yoga. Ashtanga style of Yoga has everything to do with flow. There are no breaks; you naturally go from one pose to another.

Iyengar Yoga

Iyengar is a Yoga style that has to do with body alignment. That is the precise way your body should positioned in the pose to get the best results and to avoid injury. These Yoga poses concentrate on holding poses for longer periods of time instead of flowing from one Yoga pose to another. In addition, this Yoga uses props such as blankets, blocks, and straps to help you bring your body into correct alignment.

Integral Yoga

Integral Yoga, sometimes called Supramental Yoga, is a gentle form of Hatha practice. It aims to synthesize six branches of traditional Yoga that brings together the mind, body and soul for greater unity and peace. It includes breathing exercises, meditation and chanting.

Hot Yoga

A much more intense Yoga style is called Hot Yoga. This style of Yoga is practiced in a very hot room with temperatures between 90 and 100 degrees. The heat helps to loosen muscles and causes heavy sweating. This sweating is thought to be cleansing. The most popular is the Bikram method with 26 poses.

Forrest Yoga

The Forrest Yoga style has gained popularity throughout the United States. This is an intense session of vigorous poses to strengthen the body, release pent-up emotions, and purify your body. It also helps the body to release pain so healing can start. This is an intensive workout using abdominal strengthening and deep, relaxing breathing.

Sivananda Yoga

Sivananda is another style of Yoga based on the teachings of Swami Sivananda.. It is a traditional and holistic approach to Hatha Yoga. It is based on five principles and 12 basic poses.