If you’ve decided to become a practitioner of Yoga you now must decide which form of Yoga you will want to practice. While all forms of yoga will benefit the practitioner you will need to decide which type of Yoga will suit your needs and benefit you the most.
When deciding on which type of Yoga to practice keep in mind that the core message taught in all types of yoga is the focus on creating a calm and balance in the mind and body while helping to increase flexibility and fitness at the same time.
Seen as a bit unorthodox and most definitely the most extreme form of yoga is Bikram yoga. The routine for
this type of Yoga is done in heated rooms where the temperature is set at 95 degrees or more. Practitioners of this type of Yoga believe that the high temperatures assist in relaxation as well as the cleansing of your body. Practitioners of Bikram yoga believe that this type of yoga offers you more benefits over the standard forms of yoga.
For those of you wishing to practice a more conventional type of Yoga then you should explore Hatha Yoga. This is the most commonly practiced type of Yoga and the type you would most likely find being taught at most Yoga centers around the country. This type of Yoga is best for beginners as it will teach you all the basic poses. These basic poses are the foundation for all types of Yoga so the poses you will learn are transferable if you decide to delve into another form of Yoga later on. Hatha Yoga is also excellent for those who may not have taken part in any previous exercise programs as well as the elderly. The movements in Hatha Yoga are and relaxing and will assist in helping you to gain more flexibility without concern for injury.
For the more advanced yoga practitioner there is Vinyasa yoga. Practitioners of Vinyasa Yoga love the faster pace of the routine as well as the use of breathing techniques during the movement. A Vinyasa Yoga routine is a bit more advanced than that of Hatha yoga and is not the best type of Yoga for beginners.
While there are many other forms of Yoga besides what I’ve discussed here today, they’re all based on the same philosophy, the balancing of your life through mind and body.
While all forms of yoga will benefit the practitioner you will need to decide which type of Yoga will suit your needs and benefit you the most.
photo credit: Alicia J. Rose
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