Achieving Wellness through Yoga: The Eight Most Popular Yoga Styles
Checking out your gym’s yoga class schedule isn’t always easy. What makes Anusara different from Hot Yoga? Iyengar and Vinyasa? The following is a guide to the several styles of yoga being taught these days.
ANUSARA
Created in 1997 by American practitioner, John Friend, Anusara yoga is somewhat new. Inspired by the thought that we all have inherent goodness, Anusara wants to use yoga to help students accept this fact and let their inner goodness reveal itself.
ASHTANGA
Ashtanga is based on very old yoga teachings, but it was delivered to the U.S.in the 1970s by K. It’s a very strict yoga approach that keeps to a particular order of postures and is similar to vinyasa yoga, where every movement is attached to a breath. The sole difference is that Ashtanga adheres to the same poses and repeats the same order.
BIKRAM
Some thirty years ago, Bikram Choudhury invented this 26-pose yoga specialty where classes were held in machine-heated spaces. Like Ashtanga, a Bikram class follows the same sequence all the time, though a Bikram sequence is unique from an Ashtanga sequence.
HATHA
Hatha yoga is a general term that means any type of yoga that focuses on physical postures. In most cases, yoga classes in the U.S. are actually Hatha yoga. When you find a class is marketed as Hatha, it means it is a class that will introduce you to the most basic yoga postures.
HOT YOGA
Generally speaking, the mere difference between Bikram and hot yoga classes is that the latter changes Bikram’s sequence slightly, hence it must be known by another name. The space will be heated and you will sweat profusely, so the mats and accessories to be used should be particularly intended for hot yoga classes.
YENGARIYENGARIYENGAR
Developed by B.K. To assist students in finding the proper alignment, an Iyengar studio provides an entire variety of yoga accessories, including blankets, chairs, bolsters, blocks and so on.
RESTORATIVERESTORATIVERESTORATIVE
Restorative yoga is an effective way of relaxing those nerves. Also called yin yoga, restorative classes make use of bolsters, blankets, and blocks to assist students into passive poses, allowing the body to enjoy the benefits of a pose not having having to put in any effort. A great restorative class is more revitalizing than a nap.
VINYASA
Vinyasa classes are known for teaching fluid and movement-packed techniques. Vinyasa teachers ensure classes include smooth transitions between poses, and the intention is to connect breath to movement. It does get confusing to choose the right yoga class when you have all these options available. But by understanding each one and assessing your own needs, deciding should come much easier.