Yoga Types for Overall Fitness

There are numerous forms and styles of yoga being taught and practiced today. Almost all the yoga types are established on a common ground to overcome poor health and bring about overall well-being; each yoga type has a specific importance. Following are short notes on the most common types of yoga that can help you to decide the best yoga type for your body:

• Hatha Yoga - Hatha yoga is a mellow form of yoga Adopted BY most people who are beginners to yoga. This form of yoga encompasses many physical poses of yoga. Hatha yoga is slow-paced, comfortable and gentle and is usually known to be the best introduction to basic yoga. Students of Hatha yoga are encouraged to take time to concentrate on their breathing technique and meditate as they practice.
• Vinyasa yoga – Similar to Hatha yoga, Vinyasa is a generic term that is used to identify many different types of yoga poses. Vinyasa means breath-aligned movement and is slightly more vigorous in nature and style as compared to Hatha yoga. Vinyasa is based on a series of yoga poses known as Sun Salutations or Surya Namaskar. A yoga class practicing Vinyasa yoga begins start with Sun Salutations and gradually advances to intense stretching yoga poses.
• Ashtanga and power yoga – Ashtanga is a Sanskrit term and according to yogic philosophy means eight limbs. Ashtanga Yoga consists of rapid and swift intense movements in its practice. A set series of yoga poses is always practiced in the same arrangement. Ashtanga yoga practice is much more demanding because of the ceaseless motions from one yoga pose to the next. Based on Ashtanga yoga, power yoga was inspired and developed for the western audience. In a Power yoga class, the yoga poses are usually based on the flowing style of Ashtanga yoga, but not in such a manner that it adheres to the Ashtanga series of yoga poses.
• Iyengar Yoga – B.K.S Iyengar pioneered this particular type of yoga and based on his philosophy, this specific branch of yoga is mainly concerned with bodily alignment. Iyengar yoga uses a number of props as aids in practicing yoga poses and places great attention and detail on correct alignment of the body. The aim of Iyengar yoga is to bring together the body, mind and spirit in harmonious conjunction for physical and mental well-being. As opposed to Ashtanga and power yoga, Iyengar yoga believes in holding the poses rather than moving rapidly from one pose to another.