Fifteen Different Types of Yoga to Choose From for Your Fitness Program

Yoga is the old practice of incorporating the body and mind through a variety of breathing methods, postures and meditation. Yoga started in India 5,000 years ago, but today yoga has made a name for itself within households around the US and it’s gaining in popularity every day; Americans are anxious to acquire its body and mind benefits.

While many people are primarily drawn to yoga as a way to get into shape or relieve stress, it also offers a lot of other advantages through its meditation, stretching and many postures. The general benefits to the body and mind that people have frequently mentioned are more flexibility, decrease in pain, more energy, better strength, improved posture, better sleep and betterment in well-being and mood.

However, if you’re considering yoga for your fitness routine, or have already dabbled in it, it’s very easy to get baffled by all the various types of yoga available. There are so many to choose from!  But not to worry because the following list describes the most popular types of yoga that are out there. If you’re just starting yoga, attend a class in several different types to see which one captivates you the most. Or you could switch between the numerous styles to achieve many benefits!

Hatha – This is the most popular type of yoga. It involves standard yoga postures for every level and with this style, you’re supposed to gain balance between the body and mind. This often is a common term utilized to describe the collection of styles because many yoga styles written below are formed from hatha yoga.

Forrest – This is a more current style of yoga which will have you sweating. This yoga has core strengthening, deep breathing and holding positions for a longer period of time. It’s intended to strengthen and purify your body together with promoting the release of pain and negative emotions.

Ashtanga – This entails a flowing, fast-paced sequence of positions that slowly increase in difficulty. Because of its fast pace, this yoga will produce a lot of internal heat and a cleansing sweat that will detoxify the organs and muscles. The end result is a strong and light body, circulation improvement and a quiet mind.

Power Yoga – Like ashtanga, this, too, is fast paced; but it’s more fitness-based than regular yoga in that the poses are followed by strength training. The main focus is on strength and flexibility. For all those who are searching for body toning and an intense exercise—this is it!

Viniyoga – This gentle yoga method is where your breathing is done simultaneously with the poses and works on adaptation. A teacher works with each individual to give them a personalized program according to their physical condition, present or past injuries, age and health.

Kundalini – This style of yoga is expected to wake up a powerful energy that sits at the base of your spine, much like a coiled up snake. Once this energy is awoken, it travels up through and awakens the seven energy centers to your head. Once the last energy center in the top of your head has been woken up, it’s reported to bring a huge sense of awareness and well-being.

Bikran – An arrangement of 26 poses are executed in a hot room so that your body will sweat. The room’s temperature is usually set between 90-100°F! The heated room is supposed to decrease the risk of injury, expand your body’s flexibility and aid you in detoxification.

Bharata – Bharata assists in aligning the spine in order to help with managing tension and stress, gain better posture and heighten mobility.

Ananda – This involves several mild hatha poses that are created to direct energy toward your brain to help ready your body for meditation. Ananda promotes self-awareness and spiritual growth.

Dru – This is a potent and graceful style of yoga based on directed breathing, gently flowing movements and visualization. A variety of poses are completed to assist in improving your flexibility and strength, creating enhanced positive feelings, developing core stability and finding your inner strength and tranquility.

Iyengar – This yoga is adjusted extremely toward body alignment. With this yoga you won’t “flow” from one pose into another but rather hold each pose for long time periods.

Jivamukti – This is a physically vigorous type of yoga that also includes meditation, chanting and spiritual teachings. At the end of these classes, you should go away feeling both mentally and physically refreshed.

Anusara – This actually means “to flow with nature”. This yoga style promotes body alignment and well-being in addition to awareness.

Swara – This yoga refers to the ancient science of breath. Breathing is what gives life to all of us. With this concept in mind, a series of poses concentrate on the breathing patterns and the physiological and psychological spiritual effects.

Integral – This is another mild form of hatha yoga. It highlights meditation, chanting, breathing and cleansing your body’s energy channels.

It doesn’t matter if you’re searching for pain relief, stress relief and relaxation, body toning or you want to find your spiritual self—there is a right yoga program out there for you. You just have to discover it!