Yoga Styles- Guide to The Most Popular Types

The image of yoga has changed during the paststrength, flexibility and stamina and you are fit enough
years. If once, the first picture that popped your mindto deal with an hour of jumping from one posture to
was of a group of white wearing weirdoes standinganother, Asthanga Yoga can suit you.
on their heads and breathing loudly, now you arePower Yoga:
probably thinking about Madonna's well shaped arms.This is an American development of the Asthanga
Currently, yoga is one of the most popular fitnessYoga that also adopted several elements from other
activities worldwide. One of its appeal is that it can betypes of yoga styles. You can find Power Yoga
practiced by elders and it can improve the overallclasses mainly in fitness and health clubs. Power Yoga
physical fitness of athletes.focuses on strengthening the body by performing
If you want to start practicing yoga, here is a quickHatha Yoga postures for a longer time to improve
guide to the basic types of yoga. While most of themboth physical flexibility and mental focus. Power Yoga
are based on the same ancient postures, each yogacan be a good exercise for athletes, people who
style has a different focus. Some of the yoga stylespractice types of fitness activities and people who
focus on strengthening the body while others focus onwant to tone their body.
flexibility. Other types of yoga focus mainly onBikram Yoga:
breathing, relaxation, and meditation.A Bikram Yoga class features a series of 26 Hatha
Most of the yoga styles that were adopted in theYoga postures practiced in a heated room. It is also
west, were derived from the Hatha Yoga, which is aknown as Hot Yoga. The purpose of the heat is to
general term that refers to the physical branches ofallow the participants to get into each of the yoga
the ancient Indian philosophy. The purpose of theposes in a deeper and safer manner. The heat also
traditional Hatha Yoga was to achieve balancehelps clean the body from toxins promoting sweating.
between mind and body through moral discipline andBikram Yoga focuses more on the workout of the
physical exercises, which are expressed by a seriesentire body, including the internal organs and less on
of asana: postures, panorama: breathing andflexibility. Bikram Yoga is not recommended to
meditation.pregnant women and people who suffer from high
Western culture adopted mainly the physical aspectsblood pressure and heart conditions, but it can improve
of the Hatha Yoga and ignored the moral aspects,the physical fitness of people who recover from
usually even the breathing and meditations aspects. Allinjuries.
the yoga styles that were derived from the HathaIyengar Yoga:
Yoga share the same basic principle that mentalThis focuses on the physical alignment of the body
balance can be achieved through practice of physicaland the accurate performance of each posture. Some
exercises and postures. Each yoga style chooses toof the Iyengar Yoga postures are practiced with the
focus on different aspect.assistance of props such as blocks and belts that are
Ashtanga Yoga:designed to help the participants achieve the most
This focuses on the flow of postures in order toaccurate posture and to protect their bodies from
improve strength, stamina and flexibility of the body.injuries. Since the flows between postures are not
During a Asthanga Yoga class, the participants jumppracticed, Iyengar Yoga classes are less intense and
from one posture to another. Therefore, this type oftherefore more suitable for people who are less fit.
yoga is not the ideal for beginners. People who are notIyengar Yoga improves body strength and flexibility
well fit may find it too difficult and demanding.and can fit people of any age and every physical
However, if you are interested in improving yourcondition.