5 Types of Yoga and the Benefits of Practising Them

5 Types of Yoga and the Benefits of Practising Them : With healthy living being the in thing these days, it is no wonder that yoga is fast gaining popularity as the choice health and fitness activity. Yoga is a discipline that combines precise body movements with heightened spiritual awareness. It has a myriad of physical and psychological benefits.

There are many types of yoga. We will focus on five of them and their benefits.

Anti-Gravity Yoga

It is also known as aerial yoga and incorporates traditional yoga poses along with Pilates, calisthenics and aerial acrobatics movements. Invented by aerial performer Christopher Harrison, one performs a series of exercises while suspended in the air. It is a difficult type of yoga. It is usually done with the help of a hammock, or a hammock-like apparatus that most often includes a trapeze. Here is a guide on how to get the best yoga trapeze.

Benefits

It helps to increase one’s flexibility and focus. It strengthens the muscles. It also helps to relieve stress. It provides for an all-round work out as many muscles are engaged during the exercise. It also helps to align the body, center the mind and keep a person looking young. Anti-gravity, in this case, could be taken to be synonymous with anti-aging.

Hatha

Hatha yoga is characterized by its static postures. You focus on one posture at a time and have a chance to rest in between poses. It is great for those who are new to yoga or those who prefer something that is more relaxed.

Benefits

It helps a person become physically stronger and more flexible. As one progresses in hatha, they soon become able to apply the same two aspects, strength and flexibility, to the mind.

Vinyasa

Vinyasa is one of the more popular styles of yoga. Different postures are put together to create a sequence, and you move from one pose to the next using breath, whether it is using the inhalation or the exhalation. It may appear to be similar to Ashtanga yoga but the main difference is that it is less structured.

Benefits

It offers variety, which can help in the prevention of injuries caused by doing the same motions multiple times. It helps one to develop a body that is better balanced. It is both athletic and aerobic, which helps you build your overall strength and flexibility.

Ashtanga

Ashtanga yoga is a more intense version of Vinyasa yoga that has a more rigid structure. This type of yoga involves a sequenced set of postures found in each series. There are six different series and the postures steadily become more difficult as you go along. You do not advance to the next series until you have mastered the one you’re currently doing.

Benefits

Ashtanga teaches you to be consistent. It enhances flexibility and helps to strengthen one’s core. It is also helpful in toning the body. It also serves to improve blood circulation and works to calm the mind.

Bikram

Bikram yoga is a type of Hatha yoga that takes place in a heated room. The actual temperature of the room should be 105 degrees with 40% humidity. It comprises of 26 postures taken from classic Hatha poses. While Bikram is always hot yoga, hot yoga is not always Bikram.

Benefits

You sweat it all out. This helps you to ease stress and consequently, you sleep better. Your focus increases and your concentration deepens because of the standing and balancing poses. You learn how to breathe better using the ujjayi technique, where you learn how to take slow, deep breaths using your nose and not your mouth. This type of breathing can help keep you calm when you get stressed in life.

Conclusion

The benefits of yoga include flexibility, strength, fitness, lower blood pressure, stress relief, lower cholesterol, lower rates of inflammation, detoxification of the body and so much more. Before you start searching for a yoga studio near you, first find out which type will be most suitable for you.