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Yoga is a disciplinary practice that helps us to reshape our unconscious patterns. It disciplines us by reducing the fluctuations of our mind and keeps our mind in harmony with our body. Practicing yoga helps us to build a framework to make conscious choices with clarity, mental peace, and happiness. This unparalleled form of wisdom is the ingredient we need to become spiritually aware and to enlighten our souls.
Yoga and it’s benefits
Practicing yoga mainly consists of Asanas (different body postures), and Meditation Pranayama (meditation while controlling your breathing), making it an efficient way to uplift our physical and mental health. Yoga asanas can improve our physiology by increasing our flexibility, strength, mobility, and balance. Yoga is a great tool to improve one’s physical stature and posture. The physical postures in Yoga allow our body to go through a full range of motion, reducing pain and tension in the muscles.
Modern Yoga has been divided into different forms, each with its own distinctive style and health benefits. It might be a difficult task to choose the one that resonates with us, but we can make an informed decision after evaluating all the styles available.
Styles of yoga:
Hatha Yoga:
This ancient style of Yoga is very common and focuses on asanas and pranayama. The asanas include twisting, reclining, standing and balancing of the body. This form of Yoga is highly practiced in Yoga teacher training in India.
What to expect: The Yoga asanas can be physically challenging and are usually slow and calm.
You should try this if: You need a grounded and pure form of Yoga with standing and sitting poses. It is also great for those who wish to develop awareness through pranayamas.
Benefits: Reduces muscular pain and de-stresses the body.
Viniyoga:
This is a branch of Hatha Yoga that focuses on breathing and meditation with poses. It helps in creating an inward flow of energy.
What to expect: Focus on breathing, meditation, and chanting.
You should try this if: You have limited mobility and wish to work from the inside out.
Benefits: Improved posture, body awareness, and relaxation.
Ashtanga Yoga:
This advanced form of Yoga has a series of poses that require quick transitions from one pose to another. This challenging form of Yoga is also regarded as ‘power yoga.’ Surya Namaskar is a popular form of Ashtanga Yoga with 12 asanas.
What to expect: Keen concentration on breathing while following a set of sequential poses.
You should try this if: You need a physically demanding session with fast-paced movements and acrobatic postures.
Benefits: Strengthened muscles, increased flexibility, and improved stamina.
Bikram Yoga:
This yoga form includes practicing basic asanas with breathing techniques for 90 minutes in a pre-heated room (40 degrees Celsius).
What to expect: Similar asanas as in Hatha Yoga.
You should try this if: You prefer a repetitive routine, extreme exertion and are okay with heat.
Benefits: Removal of toxins, as well as improved circulation of blood and oxygen.
Iyenger Yoga:
This form of Yoga works so that the body and mind can function in equilibrium. It has strict poses which focus on posture and proper alignment. The good breathwork helps you to hold poses for a longer time.
What to expect: Using Yoga props for standing and seated postures with good breathing techniques.
You should try this if: You want to work on correcting your posture and alignment.
Benefits: Increases range of motion, muscle tone and reduces anxiety.
Vinyasa Yoga:
This is a dynamic and flowing form of yoga. It includes quick transitions with a rhythmic background. This is a cardiovascular exercise and is very popular in the US.
What to expect: Freeform and a dynamic exercise usually guided by an instructor.
You should try this if: You want an athletic kind of feeling with minimum restrictions in forms.
Benefits: Reduces body fat, increases flexibility and builds lean muscle.
Jivamukti Yoga:
This is a Vinyasa based style that includes chanting,
What to expect: Sequences of meditation, deep listening, and chanting.
You should try this if: You want to experience the spiritual and ancient teachings of Yoga and its philosophies.
Benefits: Body awareness, widened mind and wisdom.
Kundalini Yoga:
This yoga form balances the energies of the body through mindful activities like meditation, chanting mantras, and pranayamas. It directs the flow of energy from the bottom of our spine to the seven chakras that revive the soul.
What to expect: Chanting mantra, deep meditation, and repeated movements.
You should try this if: You’re looking to deepen your spiritual practice
Yin Yoga:
This is a slow-paced form of yoga where the positions are usually held for a longer period of time. The asanas are usually performed in a seated or lying position. The longer duration of each position releases tension in muscles by giving them a uniform level of stress.
What to expect: A slow style of yoga where poses are held from 1-5 minutes.
You should try this
Benefits: Repairs connective tissues, releases tension and
Restorative Yoga:
This form of Yoga is best suited for the purpose of resting and relaxation. This involves only five or six poses with minimum movement and passive stretching. Props are also used for better support and balance.
What to expect: Gentle and slow poses that are to be held for more than 10 minutes using props.
You should try this if: You’re suffering from chronic pain and stress.
Benefits: Stimulates the nervous system by aligning physical and mental aspects by practicing still movements.
Though all the yoga styles have different benefits to offer, Yoga has a consistent theme of synchronizing the body and mind so that people can reach their highest potential.
About The Author
Bipin Baloni is a passionate Yogi, Yoga Teacher and a Traveller in India. He organizes 200 hours of yoga teacher training in various cities in India and Nepal. He also conducts AyurvedaCourses in Kerala He loves writing and reading books related to yoga, health, nature, Himalayas and Trekking in Nepal .
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