What style of yoga is right for you?
Yoga is a meditation, an exercise and a therapy that aims to unite the mind, soul. All styles of yoga balance the body, mind and spirit but how they do so may differ. Some styles focus on the poses, while others may focus on breathwork, alignment or the flow of movement. You will always feel naturally realigned after a yoga class because the breathwork, postures and internal focus will remind you who you are.
Breathing is very important in yoga as the breath signifies your vital energy. In yoga, being able to control your breath can help you to control your body and your mind. No matter which style of yoga you choose there are many classes available and the health benefits are many.
The benefits of yoga are far ranging and plentiful. Yoga can help you with increased flexibility, increased strength and vitality, strengthening of the immune system, improving of circulatory system, stimulating of endocrine system, stretching and toning of muscles, weight loss, balance, management of chronic health conditions such as asthma, depression, back pain, osteoarthritis and osteoporosis - yoga is so beneficial to every part of your life. The great thing about yoga is that anyone can practice it, as there is a style to suit everybody.
There are several different styles of yoga, most being derived from Hatha yoga, a type of yoga that focuses on the body and breath and aims to develop control the body through poses (or asanas). Hatha represents the two sides of life - the yin and the yang, the dark and the light - and aims to bring these two sides into harmony and balance. However, there are some common styles and these are outlined below:
Ashtanga - is the "workout" form of yoga. It is an aerobic form of yoga and moves quickly. Bikram - is performed in a heated room. It is good for detoxification. Kundalini - awakens the Kundalini energy at the base of the spine and mixes chanting, breathing and yoga poses. Iyengar - one of the most popular in the world. It places much focus on attention to detail and getting the alignment of the poses absolutely right. It is a great style of yoga for the fitness conscious. Viniyoga - places emphasis on healing and is gentler than other styles. The breath and movement of the spine is carefully integrated and the intensity of the poses is subject to the health of the person practicing the yoga.
How do you find the most suitable yoga style and yoga teacher for you?
There are several different ways of finding a suitable yoga teacher or class, depending on your needs. If you are a beginner, it may be best to take formal classes or tuition for a while, so that you can get the feel for the poses and the breathwork, and so that the teacher can correct any errors in your posture. Before selecting a school it is best to give the teachers a call and discuss their styles to determine what is most suitable. You will see yoga schools advertising in local papers or you can locate local practitioners online at http://www.naturaltherapypages.com.auDavid Vitek is the Owner of Australia's Largest Natural Health Website. Come & learn about Bikram Yoga & how to Quit Smoking Naturally.
