Learn All About Different Types of Yoga

1. Learn All About Different Types of Yoga What’s inside? •Yoga Types: Four Paths of Yoga •General Benefits of Yoga Types •Guide to Types of Yoga Yoga, an ancient practice that possesses its glory to date has never got lost of its prominence. This unique physical and spiritual practice even though is deeply rooted in Hindu philosophy in India, has spanned around the globe and millions benefit from making yoga a part of their life. Anyone can attain the fascinating advantages of the discipline provided you choose the style that best fits you.

2. Finding the yoga style that suits you well from the wide variety of yoga types gets a bit difficult. So, the basic knowledge is to make yourself aware of the various types of yoga practices and how they differ from each style. In this article, a basic description of the most popular types of yoga that exist in the world is detailed. How do you know which yoga styles are right for you to practice? Get an idea of the yoga style that fits your needs: Yoga Types: Four Paths of Yoga Yoga literally means to join or union, the union of individual consciousness (Atman) with reality. In the yogic journey, the practitioner becomes free from the illusion and fancies of the physical world. In other words, yoga is a journey towards self-realization and the journey can be attained in four ways. The four paths are described in the Bhagavad Gita. •Karma Yoga According to Karma Yoga, fulfilling one’s own duty without ego or attachment is a service to God. Karma Yoga transforms one into a humble, pure individual who destroys the ego. Karma Yoga can be practiced anywhere, anytime. Karma Yoga is a path to reach spiritual liberation through selfless work.

3. •Bhakti Yoga The essence of Bhakti Yoga is the devotion to purity, which raises the spiritual level of the yogi to the point where the ego is removed. Prayer, chanting, Japa, and Satsang are the basic practices of Bhakti Yoga that encourage a lifetime of devotion. •Jnana/ Gyan Yoga The Jnana Yoga takes an intellectual approach to yoga. It aims to understand the ‘Self’ and to remove the false self. Jnana Yoga is viewed as the fastest path in yoga. •Raja Yoga A yogi who practices Raja Yoga controls his body, breath, desires, mind, and senses with the goal of letting go of his ego and gaining insight into his ‘I’. It is one of the most widely practiced forms of yoga along with Ashtanga Yoga (Eight-Limbed Path of Yoga).The eight practices of Raja Yoga are yam, niyam, asan, pranayam, pratyahar, dharana, dhyan and samadhi.

4. General Benefits of Yoga Types Be it a vigorous movement like Ashtanga Yoga or much slow-paced postures like Yin Yoga, most of the yoga styles share some common benefits. Practicing yoga can become an integral part of life as it offers physical and mental health benefits for people of all age groups. Some of the common benefits of practicing yoga. •Increase strength and balance •Reduces stress and anxiety •Improves overall well-being •Weight management and improved sleep •Improves mental and physical energy Guide to Types of Yoga •Hatha Yoga Hatha Yoga is the most popular physical-based yoga practice and it is considered the best for beginners. Hatha Yoga, compared to other yoga styles is practiced at a slower pace, giving importance to breathing. With stretching and specific, controlled movements restore the balance of the body and the mind. The benefits include reducing stress, physical fitness, weight loss, etc.

5. •Vinyasa Yoga Vinyasa Yoga is also called ‘Flow Yoga.’ This means the flow between poses or postures from one to another with controlled breathing. Vinyasa is dynamic and active in nature. So the practice is physically demanding and it is great for people who want to build muscles, strengthen, and tone their body. Increased stamina, fitness, and stability are the benefits. •Yin Yoga The practice of Yin Yoga is characterized by slow-paced postures, which are held for long periods of time. Yin Yoga stretches your connective tissue and makes it more elastic. Yin poses affect our joints and tissues and the practice of Yin Yoga can help to increase our range of motion. Yin yoga also helps to increase mobility and flexibility. •Kundalini Yoga Kundalini Yoga is both a physical and spiritual practice as it releases the kundalini energy in the body said to be stuck in the lower spine. Kundalini Yoga reduces stress, and anxiety and aids in better cognitive function. Kundalini Yoga incorporates a lot of meditation techniques, chanting of mantras, and hand mudras. The vigorous postures with breathing exercises strongly develop a spiritual practice.

6. •Ashtanga Yoga Ashtanga in Sanskrit means “Eight Limb Path.” Ashtanga Yoga was introduced to the world by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, who established the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute in Mysore, India. As this style is typically fast-paced physically challenging and demanding it is not recommended for beginners. Ashtanga is suitable for building strength and purifying the nervous system. •Iyengar Yoga Iyengar Yoga was founded by B.K.S. Iyengar, a known yoga teacher from India. Iyengar Yoga is different from other types of yoga as it focuses primarily on elements like posture, body alignment, and opening of the body. This type of yoga also makes use of a lot of props to correct and align each pose. Students practice different postures while controlling their breath. Increased flexibility, stability, and core strength are the main benefits of practicing Iyengar Yoga. Conclusion There are many styles of yoga and each is different in its functioning and practice. Choosing a yoga style is purely based on your motive behind practicing the form. After all it’s a wonderful practice and performing any style improves the quality of life and one’s self-esteem. All you need is to fix your style and get going.