THE TYPES OF YOGA

Regardless of the type of yoga you choose to do, you will see improvements in many areas of your health. With regular exercise you can:

- increase your flexibility

- increase your muscle tone and strength

-improve blood circulation and the health of the cardiovascular system

- sleep better

-increases energy levels

- to improve your sports performance

-reduces injuries

-detoxify your organs

- improve your posture

-improves anxiety and depression

- helps chronic pain

-release endorphins that improve your mood and much more...

There are many types of yoga and each of us can choose the one that suits us according to our needs. All types of yoga are based on the same main postures, called asanas, but they differ quite a bit, mainly in terms of intensity.

Below we have a list of the types of yoga that exist:

Hatha Yoga

Hatha is a general category that includes most styles of yoga. It is an ancient system that includes the practice of asana (yoga postures) and pranayama (breathing exercises), which contribute to peace of mind and body, preparing us for deeper spiritual practices such as meditation.

Today, the term hatha is used in such a way that it is difficult to know what a particular class of hatha will be. In most cases, however, it will be relatively gentle, slow and suitable for beginners who prefer a more relaxed style of exercise.

Vinyasa Yoga

Like hatha, vinyasa yoga is an umbrella term that describes many different styles of yoga. It basically means movement synchronized with the breath and is a dynamic style based on a fast flow. Usually a vinyasa yoga class is characterized by continuous flow from one yoga pose to the next.

Ashtanga Yoga

Ashtanga is a system of yoga brought to the modern world by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. If you take an ashtanga class at a studio, you'll be led non-stop through one or more of the ashtanga sequences, encouraged to breathe as you move your body from one pose to the next. Each exercise is a set sequence of asanas, always in the same order. It is usually fast, intense and physically demanding.

There are six sets of exercises in total, increasing in difficulty as you move from one to the next. Although a typical class moves fairly quickly, most Ashtanga studios offer Mysore-style classes, which allow students to work at their own pace and be assessed by senior instructors.

Power Yoga

Power yoga is an intense vinyasa style of yoga. Initially, it is very similar to ashtanga and was an attempt to make ashtanga more accessible to western culture. It differs, however, in that it is not a set series of positions, but allows the instructor the freedom to teach what he wants.

Bikram Yoga

One thing you can be sure of when you attend a Bikram class is consistency. Apart from the instructor, a Bikram class is the same no matter where you go, consisting of the same twenty-six postures and two breathing techniques, lasting ninety minutes, in a room heated to 40.6 °F °C), with humidity of 40 %. You can also be sure to sweat. The room is warm and the class challenges you so much

physically as well as mentally. Founded by Bikram Choudhury, this form of hot yoga is meant to flush out toxins, manage weight and allow students to rev up their metabolism.

Jivamukti Yoga
David Life and Sharon Gannon created jivamukti yoga in 1984 and have since studied with various teachers, including Swami Nirmalananda and Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. Their classes resemble ashtanga with a vinyasa-style flow through the asanas. Each class begins with a standardized warm-up sequence unique to jivamukti, and often teachers incorporate weekly themes such as chanting, meditation,
readings and confirmations.

Iyengar Yoga
The hallmark of iyengar is an intense focus on the subtleties of each pose. BKS Iyengar teaches his classes from his home in Pune, India and has become one of the most influential gurus of our time. In a typical iyengar class, postures are held much longer than in other schools of yoga, in an effort to pay more attention to precise musculoskeletal alignment within each asana. Another
characteristic of iyengar is the use of props, such as blocks, belts, sticks, chairs, and blankets, which are used to address injuries or structural imbalances, as well as to teach the student how to move properly.

Anasura Yoga
The anusara style is a new hatha system that teaches a series of universal principles of alignment that underlie all yoga postures, encouraging graceful flow and following your heart. Founded by John Friend, and the practice of anusara
is generally categorized into three parts, known as the Three A's. They include posture, alignment and action.

Sivananda Yoga
Sivananda is a form of hatha founded by Swami Sivananda and brought to the west by Swami Vishnu-devananda. A class usually starts with Savasana (relaxation), kapalabhati and anuloma viloma, followed by a few rounds of surya namaskara. The class then moves through Sivananda's twelve asanas, which together are designed to increase spinal strength and flexibility. Chanting and meditation can also be part of a complete
class.
Vishnu-devananda later brought Sivananda Yoga Vedanta International Centers, Sivananda's summer system to five basic principles: proper exercise (asanas); proper breathing (pranayama); proper relaxation (savasana); proper diet (vegetarian) and positive
thought (vedanta) and meditation (dhyana).

Viniyoga Yoga
Viniyoga refers to an approach to yoga that adapts the various means and methods of practice to the individual's unique situation, needs and interests.
Created by TKV Desikachar, the goal is to give the practitioner the tools to personalize and inform the process of self-discovery and personal transformation.

Kundalini Yoga
Kundalini incorporates repetitive movements or exercises, dynamic breathing techniques, chanting, meditation and mantra. Each particular kundalini exercise, referred to as a kriya, is a movement that is often repeated and synchronized with the breath. The practice is designed to awaken the energy at the base of the spine to draw it up through each of the seven chakras. He came
west by Yogi Bhajan. This form of yoga looks and feels very different from any other, with an emphasis on repetitive, heightened breathing and the movement of energy through the body.

Yin Yoga
Yin yoga is a slow-paced style where each pose is held for five minutes or more. Although it is passive, yin yoga can be quite difficult due to the large holds, especially if your body is not used to it. The aim is to apply moderate pressure to the connective tissue – tendons, ligaments and ligaments – to increase circulation in the joints and improve flexibility. It was founded and originally taught in the USA in the late 1970s by martial arts expert and Taoist yoga teacher Paulie Zink. Yin-style is now beginning to be taught throughout North America and Europe, and is largely due to two of its most prominent instructors, Paul Grilley and Sarah Powers.

Whichever type you choose, the only thing certain is that you will see results and enjoy it. Yoga is an attitude of life, it is a way of discharging and empowering yourself! Good start!

- iToocan Team