| Yoga has many benefits. A regular program of yoga | | | | degrees Fahrenheit. This type of yoga is useful for |
| can help keep your spine supple, your core strong, and | | | | detoxing though profuse sweating and loosening tight |
| help you maintain balance and poise. It also tones your | | | | muscles. The original Bikram was based on 26 poses. |
| muscles, helps strengthen your immune system, and | | | | But not all classes follow this.o Anusara: this relatively |
| boosts your metabolism. However, yoga alone cannot | | | | new style of yoga founded in 1977 by a man named |
| help you lose large amounts of weight. It is, however, a | | | | John Friend combines physical alignment with positive |
| good idea to add it to any healthy living plan. | | | | energy derived from tantra. The philosophy here is the |
| Yoga will help you feel better about yourself and is a | | | | goodness of all beings. Props are also often used in |
| great confidence booster. Many find yoga is an island | | | | this class which is generally open to people of all levels |
| of calm in an otherwise hectic world. While not all yoga | | | | of fitness and abilities.o Jivanukti: David life and Sharon |
| is aerobic, there are some types of yoga that can | | | | Gannon founded this style in New York at one of the |
| substitute for aerobic activity. Using yoga to lose | | | | most elite Yoga Studios. It is inspired by Ashtanga and |
| weight all depends on the type you do and how | | | | strongly emphasizes chanting, meditation, and spirituality. |
| frequently you do it. You should opt to engage in 90 | | | | Most teachers of yoga in the United States have been |
| minutes of aerobic style yoga three or more times per | | | | trained by them.o Forrest: Originated by Anna Forrest |
| week, and if you add in another style of yoga the | | | | in California and is based on vigorous Asana poses. It |
| remaining days per week you can gain all the benefits | | | | is designed to strengthen, purify, release, and heal the |
| of most other types of physical activity such as | | | | body and promote healing form within both physically |
| weight or strength training and flexibility. | | | | and emotionally. You can expect intense aerobic |
| In order to lose weight and keep it off you need to | | | | exercise that helps develop your core and expand |
| effect lasting changes in your lifestyle permanently. | | | | your breathing ability.o Integral: based on the teachings |
| Doing this requires incorporating 5 key elements into | | | | of Yogi Sri Swami Sachinananda who came to the |
| your lifestyle. These are adequate rest, drinking enough | | | | US in the 1960's. He founded many Institutes that use |
| water, eating a balanced diet, proper types of | | | | gentle Hatha practice along with chanting and |
| exercise, and caring for yourself emotionally. Yoga can | | | | mediation. You can find books also based on this such |
| help with the exercise and emotional elements. So | | | | as Richard Hittlemans 28 day exercise plan which help |
| what is yoga? | | | | newbie's and beginners to receive maximum benefits |
| Hatha Yoga: Exercise for the Mind & Spirit | | | | and results through daily practice in their first month. |
| Yoga is based on eight principles as a study of all | | | | Yoga is generally based on 5 general principles Proper |
| religions. It is not of itself a religion. One of the eight | | | | exercise, proper breathing, proper relaxation, proper |
| studies deals with physical training and keeping the | | | | diet, and positive thinking. By incorporating aerobic |
| body in good working order. When people in the west | | | | Yoga or other aerobic exercise for 90 minutes per |
| think about yoga, it is the branch of Hatha Yoga they | | | | session 3 or more times per week along with yoga on |
| have in mind. Hatha Yoga itself has many branches or | | | | most other days per week in to your exercise plan |
| types of physical training systems developed over | | | | you can expect to see results n your first 4 to 6 |
| many years that are all based on the same physical | | | | weeks. The trick is to stick with it and make a real |
| postures or poses. Here are just a few:o Hatha: while | | | | effort for consistency. Yoga along with rest, water, |
| this is the yoga branch that deals with physical yoga, | | | | sleep, and other lifestyle changes can help you lose |
| here in the west a class that is called Hatha generally | | | | weight and keep it off. Just remember to perform it |
| means it will be slow and gentle and thus provide a | | | | daily and follow along with a book, video, or audio |
| good introduction for beginners to learn the yoga | | | | material if you opt to do it at home, especially if you |
| poses.o Vinyasa: this may also be called sun | | | | are a beginner. |
| salutations or breath-synchronized movement. It is just | | | | Yoga works by stimulating the adrenal systems and |
| slightly more vigorous than Hatha. Some places use | | | | helping to clear out your lymph and immune system of |
| this as a warm up before other more vigorous types | | | | toxins. The release of pent up energy, the effects of |
| of yoga begin.o Ashtanga & Power Yoga: | | | | the calmness yoga emphasizes, and by performing |
| Ashtanga means eight limbs and is based on the | | | | both aerobic and stretching, Hatha type yoga, you can |
| whole philosophy of yoga. It is a very fast paced type | | | | get you strength, flexibility, and aerobic exercise all jut |
| of yoga that is always performed in the same order. It | | | | by practicing the different types of yoga styles. You |
| flows and moved without pauses. Power yoga is | | | | will firm and tone muscles, burn calories, and boost |
| usually based on Ashtanga, but not always, though it | | | | your immune system and metabolism. Other effects |
| usually is the inspiration for power yoga.o Iyengar: this | | | | are long lasting, such as calmness, poise, and balance. |
| is based on the teachings of Yogi B.K.S. Iyengar which | | | | Most yogis know that regular yoga produces a glow |
| is based on an emphasis of body alignment. Precise | | | | and vibrant energy that tends to draw like minded |
| alignment is effective to maximize benefits and avoid | | | | people to you. (Anyone who practices yoga regularly |
| injury. In this type of exercise you usually hold each | | | | is considered a yogi.) |
| pose over long periods of time rather than moving | | | | If you have ever wanted to lose weight you may |
| quickly form one to the next. You usually will use props | | | | have found the wide array of methods and ideologies |
| such as blankets, blocks, and straps.o Kundalini: this | | | | confusing. You may have wondered if you could lose it |
| emphasizes breath in conjunction with movement. | | | | by dieting, pills, exercise, or other drastic measure alone. |
| Combining movement with controlled breath is meant | | | | The answer is no! Losing weight takes a determined |
| to move and free energy within the chakras or body | | | | effort, willingness and patience, and the process of |
| systems. This type of yoga can be very helpful to | | | | trying and combining methods to achieve what works |
| encourage regulation with the digestion and adrenal | | | | best for you personally. In addition to lifestyle habits, |
| systems.o Bikram or Hot Yoga: be prepared to spend | | | | dietary changes, and following the 5 key principles of a |
| time in a hot room that is usually around 95 to 100 | | | | good lifestyle, yoga can help you achieve your goals. |