What are the kinds of yoga

(May 24, 2012)

There are numerous health benefits that have been associated with the ancient practice of yoga. This is why people of all ages are advised to practice yoga. Fortunately, there are many different kinds of yoga that people can practice, depending upon their age, levels of physical fitness and their overall health condition. Given below is a brief list of the different types of yoga:

Ashtanga Yoga

This discipline of yoga is usually recommended for those who are new to the practice of yoga. Ashtanga yoga poses are vigorous, but are fairly easy to perform. This is why people who begin with Ashtanga yoga remain motivated for a longer period of time.

Bikram Yoga

Bikram Yoga or Hot Yoga is one of the most popular disciplines of yoga in the western world. It is known as hot yoga, because you need to practice the entire sequence in an environment that has been raised to a temperature of 105 degrees Fahrenheit.

Hatha yoga

This form of yoga is ideal for those who are elderly or cannot perform strenuous exercises for any reason. Most of the poses or asanas in hatha yoga need to be performed in a slow and gentle manner.

Power yoga

Power yoga is one of the most strenuous forms of yoga, usually recommended for those who are young and physically fit.

Iyengar yoga

Most people practicing Iyengar yoga are required to use props, like mats, cushions, pillows and so on.

Vinyasa yoga

Also known as Flow Yoga. Vinyasa yoga requires a person to practice all the poses in a specific flow.

Some of the other common kinds of yoga include Kundalini Yoga, Jivamukhti Yoga, Ananda Yoga, Sivananda Yoga, Kripalu Yoga and Anusara Yoga.

Submitted by C D on May 24, 2012 at 04:26

What Are The Benefits Of Yoga

Most of us are aware of the fact that there are several health benefits of yoga. These could include physical, mental and emotional benefits. Given below are some of the most common physical health benefits of yoga:

Treating many ailments and controlling the symptoms of minor afflictions like backaches, menstrual cramps, arthritis as also migraine headaches.
Increasing breath stability and lung capacity
Reducing the levels of acid in the body
Improving the circulation of blood, oxygen and nutrients all over the body
Keeping the pulse-rate and blood pressure in check
Boosting stamina, endurance and energy
Regulating metabolism, which speeds up the weight loss process
Enhancing digestion

Given below are some of the common mental health benefits of yoga:

Reducing stress, anxiety, fear and other negative emotions
Improving mood
Elevating self-confidence
Enhancing concentration
Developing a higher awareness of the body

In today’s world, there is a lot of pressure on children to perform well in academics and all extracurricular activities. Therefore, kids too should be encouraged to practice yoga, as they could benefit from it. Many schools have introduced yoga as a part of their physical education curriculum too. Given below are some of the common benefits of yoga for kids:

Increasing immunity, causing them to fall sick less often
Elevating balance and flexibility, which helps them perform well in the field of sports
Sharpening mental skills like memory, focus and attention, thereby improving academic performance
Enhancing social skills, because of which they interact with others in a better manner.

Even though there are several health benefits of yoga, it is important to check with a doctor, before taking up this practice.

Submitted by R J on May 24, 2012 at 04:19