| There may be different reasons for people to practice | | | | 40% humidity. The heat helps de-toxify the body |
| yoga. While some may turn up to yoga to improve | | | | through increased sweating. It improves blood |
| physical strength or posture, some others may do it to | | | | circulation and brings every joint and muscle in the |
| recover from an injury. While some may do it to stay | | | | body back to work. |
| fit, others might consider it a path to enlightenment. The | | | | Karma yoga: It is intended to attain selflessness, while |
| most common forms of yoga practiced all over the | | | | rendering one's duties. By practicing karma yoga, you |
| world are: | | | | detach yourself from the consequences or the end |
| Hatha yoga: It is the most common form of yoga, | | | | results of action. This helps in becoming |
| practiced with an aim to balance the body and the | | | | process-oriented and focused and brings about the |
| mind. It involves a combination of asanas or physical | | | | liberation of mind and soul. |
| postures, breathing exercises or pranayama, and | | | | Bhakti yoga: This form of yoga is usually practiced to |
| meditation. Hatha yoga rejuvenates the energy | | | | completely devote oneself to God. Archana, |
| channels to help the body get rid of chronic diseases. | | | | padasevana, kirtana, and smarana are some of the |
| Hatha yoga is further categorized as:o Iyengar yoga: It | | | | ways used to connect to the Almighty. |
| was conceptualized by Mr. B.K. Iyengar to focus mainly | | | | Anusara yoga: Anusara means to "follow your heart". |
| on the asanas. Props such as belts and ropes are | | | | Practiced extensively in the United States and the UK, |
| used to perfect the physical postures and achieve | | | | anusara yoga emphasizes on doing the asanas with |
| proper alignment of body structure.o Ashtanga yoga: It | | | | grace. For this, certain alignment techniques are used |
| is fast-paced yoga and demands a certain level of | | | | to refine the physical postures. |
| fitness from its practitioners. It is divided into stages, | | | | Kundalini yoga: Kundalini means energy that originates |
| and one is required to master one stage before | | | | from the root of the spine. Kundalini yoga is a powerful |
| moving to the next stage in the sequence. Ashtanga is | | | | form of yoga that incorporates pranayama, mantra, |
| recommended for people seeking enlightenment and | | | | asanas, as well as bhakti yoga. It works by awakening |
| self-realization.o Flow yoga: Also called Vinyasa yoga, | | | | and re-energizing the seven chakras of the body, also |
| it involves smooth and steady transition from one | | | | called the seven centers of consciousness. |
| asana to the other, usually in sync with the breath. | | | | There are various other forms of yoga, each catering |
| There are no specific rules and it sometimes takes the | | | | to specific needs. Laughter yoga, heart yoga, sahaja |
| form of a dance.o Bikram yoga: Conceptualized by Mr. | | | | yoga, mantra yoga, and purna yoga are popular and |
| Bikram Choudhury, it is also called hot yoga. It involves | | | | customized forms that serve the different needs and |
| practicing 26 asanas and 2 breathing exercises in a | | | | objectives. What you must remember is to start |
| sequence. The distinctive feature is that you are | | | | slowly under expert guidance, and increase the pace |
| required to practice in a heated room, at an | | | | gradually. |
| approximate temperature of 40ËsC, in around | | | | |