Understanding different types of Yoga

Understanding the different types of Yoga

Yoga is becoming a prevalent activity in the Western world today. The number of places holding Yoga classes is growing and there are dozens of different types of Yoga. Choosing Hatha Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Power Yoga, Iyengar Yoga, Bikram Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga and many more can easily be confused. choose which type is right for you. 

Hatha Yoga - in Sanskrit (ancient Indian language) "Ha" means "sun" and "tha" means "moon". This type of Yoga is a slow, soft type of Yoga and is a great place to start if you are completely new to Yoga and do not know any asanas (poses). Like all forms of Yoga, Hatha Yoga aims to unite the mind, body, and spirit. 

Ashtanga Yoga - this is a form of Yoga that I practice regularly and means "eight limbs" in Sanskrit. It is a quick, powerful style of Yoga practice and is based on a continuous set of asanas sequences, which are breathable. Ashtanga Yoga can be very difficult physically as you move from one asana in a row to the next, so you will find that it will improve your strength and flexibility. 

Power Yoga - this is the Western definition of Yoga and is based on Ashtanga Yoga. The Power Yoga class may not adhere to a specific posture as Ashtanga Yoga does, but it involves practicing a series of postures without standing and starting. 

Iyengar Yoga - This type of Yoga is based on the teachings of B.K.S Iyengar and focuses on proper alignment and posture. Unlike Ashtanga Yoga, emphasis is placed on holding each position longer than moving from one place to another. Iyengar Yoga uses props such as blocks and belts to help align the body in different areas. 

Vinyasa Yoga - Vinyasa means harmonious breathing movement and is another fast form of Yoga, which emphasizes breathing. The habit usually begins with a greeting from the sun and then goes on to a piece of more intimate advice. In the whole practice, each stand is equated with a counterpose. 

Bikram Yoga - otherwise known as "Hot Yoga", is trained in a 105-degree burn, with a humidity of about 40%. Usually, a series of 26 different postures are performed during the Bikram Yoga class and the warmth helps to relax the muscles. Due to the high temperature, many people sweat profusely during class and this helps to cleanse the body of toxins. If you are a beginner or have never practiced yoga before, I recommend trying a few types of yoga to find out what you like best. Remember, there is no law that says you should stick to one form of Yoga. I really like Ashtanga Yoga, but I also go to Iyengar and Hatha Yoga classes from time to time to find something different.

Benefits of Yoga

Anxiety and Depression: Yoga can help alleviate daily stress and depressive symptoms, however, it may not work in the mental health conditions found in the clinic. NCCIH reviewed 68 published studies on yoga and found no conclusive evidence to support its effectiveness in managing anxiety disorders, depression, or PTSD.

Arthritis and fibromyalgia: According to NCCIH, there is weaker evidence to support yoga than the benefits of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia.

Back pain: The American College of Physicians recommends yoga as a non-medical treatment for back pain.2 A 2018 review of eight studies conducted by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality found that yoga improves low back pain and both short-term performance benefits of the middle class, and their effects are similar to other forms of exercise.

Balance: Yoga helps improve balance in healthy people, according to 11 of the 15 studies reviewed by the NIH.

Emotional health: Yoga has a positive effect on mental health and has been shown to have the benefits of improving stamina or normal psychological well-being in 10 of the 14 studies reviewed by the NCCIH.

Menopause: Yoga can relieve the physical and psychological symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes, according to an NCCIH review of more than 1,300 study participants.

Awareness: In a 2018 study of 1,820 young people published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, participants indicated that greater attention, motivation to participate in other activities and healthy eating, and the impact of yoga-focused community health. regular yoga practice.

Multiple sclerosis: Yoga has been shown to rain short-term benefits to the feelings and fatigue of people with multiple sclerosis. Sclerosis, however, has not been found to affect muscle function, cognitive function, or quality of life, NCCIH reports.

Neck Pain: A 2019 meta-analysis published in the journal Medicine including 10 studies and a total of 686 studies found that yoga can reduce neck pain and paralysis from pain while also improving the range of motion of the neck.

Sleep: A few studies reviewed by NCCIH have found that yoga can improve sleep quality and duration. People who experience the benefits of sleeping with yoga include cancer patients, the elderly, people with arthritis, pregnant women, and women with menopausal symptoms.

Stress management: Yoga was shown to improve physical or psychological measures related to stress in 12 of the 17 revised studies, according to the NCCIH.