What are the kinds of Yoga?
When most people think of yoga, they think of a slow paced form of exercise that relies on deep breathing, stretching and contorted postures, and chanting. What many people don’t realize is that yoga encompasses a myriad number of disciplines and physical aspect is just one aspect. There are many different kinds of yoga and it is a good idea to take some time to find out about them so that you can determine which kind of yoga is right for you.
Hatha Yoga: Hatha yoga is one of the oldest forms of classical yoga. This is a slow and gentle form of yoga that is ideal for beginners, the elderly, or those who are not used to exercising on a regularly basis.
Vinyasa Yoga: Vinyasa yoga is a type of yoga that lays great emphasis on the co-ordination between breath and movement. It is a moderately paced workout that relies heavily on the Sun Salutations Series. This is a good starting point for those who are already relatively physically fit or those who have been practicing Hatha Yoga for some time.
Ashtanga Yoga: Ashtanga Yoga also lays emphasis on coordinating movement with breath, but it is faster and more intense than Vinyasa Yoga.
These are three main variants of classical yoga that deal with physical fitness. In addition, there are other modern variations of these classical styles such as Power Yoga, Bikram Yoga, and Iyengar Yoga. Other forms of yoga such as Kundalini Yoga focus more on improving mental concentration and breathe control.
Submitted by S C on July 6, 2012 at 06:10
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