How Do You Know What Type of Yoga is Best for You?
Yoga has been practiced for over 5,000 years and started in Northern India! The practice of yoga has extreme mental and physical health benefits. It can improve your strength, balance, flexibility, and breathing techniques. Yoga is a great way to work on your mental well-being and physical health at the same time. With the right type of yoga, anyone can take part in practice, but how do you know what kind is best for you? Choose from the following types of yoga to get started with your practice!
Restorative Yoga is the practice of yoga that prepares and restores the body to its parasympathetic nervous system function. It is like your typical yoga class, but each pose is held for a longer period and breathing is focused. Restorative yoga can be enhanced with the use of props such as blankets, blocks, and bolsters to fully support the body and engage in relaxation. Restorative yoga is best-used to rest the body, heal, and restore balance!
Hot Power Flow is a powerful and energetic practice of yoga that works out the body while breathing through the flow. It is taught in a heated studio which makes it a vigorous form of physical fitness. The heated studio helps you sweat out toxins and negative thoughts from deep within your body. Practicing yoga in a heated studio allows your joints and muscles to loosen and relax. Hot power flow is best for someone looking to gain physical fitness while engaging in special breathing techniques while getting their sweat on!
Barre is a toning, body-weight-lifting workout! It engages muscles you wouldn’t normally target—ones deep inside your body that squats, lunges, and sit-ups don’t reach. With high-reps and low-impact movements, barre challenges anyone looking to fine-tune their muscles! Although a bar is used, no ballet experience is required!
Ashtanga Yoga focuses on vigorous physical practice that works on strength, flexibility, and endurance. Ashtanga is the union of the eight limbs of yoga, into one complete, holistic system. These eight limbs of yoga represent the various branches of the philosophy of the yoga sutras that form the foundation of Ashtanga Yoga. Ashtanga yoga practices sun salutations and sets of seated poses and is best for athletes and those who want a good workout.
Vinyasa Yoga is a style of yoga characterized by stringing poses together and flowing from one movement to the next using breath. Vinyasa yoga is all about the flow between breath and movements that center your mind and body together. It is known to build muscle strength and act as a cardio workout. Try out vinyasa to improve your mobility, and range of motion, and calm your mind at the same time!
Warm Slow Flow and Gentle Flow are two types of yoga that focus on slow movement and breathing. Warm yoga is like hot yoga but there is about a 10-degree difference in temperature. The heat will still help to loosen the body and get deeper into your practice, but some may find the warm setting more enjoyable. Gentle flow yoga is geared toward those who are new to yoga and want to flow through simple poses. These simple poses focus on alignment flexibility and balance. Both forms of yoga incorporate breathing techniques and reduce stress!
Regardless of your age, physical capability, and experience, your local yoga studio is here for you! With the wide range of classes and instructors, you can become a Yogi! Feel the benefits all types of yoga have to offer and schedule a class today!
