The Most Common Types of Yoga

The Most Common Types of Yoga

Choosing from the many different types of yoga today can be a problem for beginners. It is important to choose a form of yoga that is appropriate to each individual's needs and abilities. One's level of fitness and condition of health, as well as the individual physical and spiritual goals all come into play in making the choice.

Some of the most common types of yoga are listed below and briefly explained to guide you in choosing the best type of yoga to start you on your path.

Iyengar Yoga: This yoga style is solely focused on the alignment and precise movements. Yoga props such as blocks and straps are usually used as part of this yoga style for those beginners who are not as flexible as the experts and help to compensate for injuries.

These Yoga props help assist people with all sorts of conditios to be able to do the poses comfortably.

Because of its attention to details and the flexible modification of poses, these types of yoga exercises are often a good form of exercise for people with back pain or neck pain, as they are likely to benefit from the random alteration to the poses.

Practicing these types of yoga exercises will give you a sound foundation in the classic yoga poses, so that you will have the basic fundamentals on how to do each position, should you wish to practice other styles of yoga.

In Iyengar yoga, the teacher focuses more on alignment and inner awareness. This awareness starts with the body and expands to other parts of the self as one continues with the regularity of practice.

Ashtanga Yoga: this yoga style is commonly referred to as “power yoga,” because it is focused on a powerful flowing movement.

Such movements include pushups and lunges, which deal with strength and stamina. This type of yoga is best for people who have successfully overcome back injuries and are looking for more challenging practice.

People who are already athletic, such as runners, gymnasts and cyclists, who want to add more balance and concentration to their routines, are also utilizing these types of yoga.

Bikram Yoga: also known as the “hot yoga”, (under protest from Bikram himself) this yoga style is done in a very warm room. This yoga style provides excellent tools for increasing flexibility, because the heat helps tissue to stretch.

Keep in mind that this type of yoga is not advised for those that have developed cardiovascular diseases, due to the strain placed on the body when vigorously exercising in the heat.

Viniyoga: this yoga practice focuses on breath and movement in flowing exercises that are adapted to each individual. This style is often a good form of yoga for those with back problems or neck injuries, because it can be easily adapted by anyone.

Raja Yoga: this yoga type aims for liberation through meditation. This yoga style is best for those people who are capable of intense concentration.

Bhakti yoga: or commonly known as devotional yoga.This yoga form focuses on self surrender in the face of the divine.

Mantra yoga: better known as "the yoga of potent sound,”. This style of yoga aims at liberation through the verbal or mental repetition of empowered sounds, such as om, hum, or ram.

There are a vast array of yoga institutions to choose from. Before deciding on a class, it is a good idea to discuss with the teacher his or her philosophy and beliefs to determine the most appropriate and personally appealing form of yoga for you.