Yoga has been practiced for more than 5,000 years, and currently, closet to 11 million Americans are enjoying its health benefits. The techniques used in yoga practice allow the body to gain flexibility, strength, and create more aligned posture. Depending upon your health needs along with what you wish to accomplish from practicing yoga, you will need to understand the different types of yoga that is available for you.
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To help enlighten your potential yoga journey, here are 5 best yoga practices to try:
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Ananda Yoga: Ananda Yoga classes focus on gentle postures designed to move the energy up to the brain and prepare the body for meditation. Classes also focus on proper body alignment and controlled breathing.
Ashtanga Yoga: Is the name give to the system of yoga taught by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. This style of yoga is physically demanding as it involves synchronizing breathing with progressive and continuous series of postures- a process producing intense internal heat and profuse, purifying sweat that detoxifies muscles and organs. Ashtanga is an athletic yoga practice and is not for beginners.
Bikram Yoga: is the method of yoga that is a comprehensive workout that includes all the components of fitness: muscular strength, muscular endurance, cardiovascular flexibility and weight loss. The founder, Bikram Choudhury, was a gold medal Olympic weight lifter in 1963 and is a disciple of Bishnu Ghosh, brother of Paramahansa Yogananda. One of the unusual but most beneficial aspects of Bikram’s yoga practice is the 95-105 degree temperature which promotes more flexibility, detoxification, and prevention of injuries. This is the only yoga style that specializes in using the heated environment.
Hatha: Is an easy-to-learn basic form of yoga that has become very popular in the United States. Hatha Yoga is the foundation of all Yoga styles. It incorporates Asanas (postures). Pranyama (regulated breathing), metitation (Dharana & Dhyana) and kundalini (Laya Yoga) into a complete system that can be used to achieve enlightenment or elf-realization. It has become very popular in America as a source of exercise and stress management. The ideal way to practice the Hatha Yoga poses (asanas) is to approach the practice session in a calm, meditative mood. Sit quietly for a few moments, then begin the series, slowly, with control and grace, being inwardly as the body performs the various poses selected for the practice session. Do not overdo the asanas or try to compete with others. Take it easy and enjoy.
ISHTA: Developed by South African teacher Mani Finger and popularized in the United States by his son Alan, ISHTA (Integral Science of Hatha and Tantric Arts) on opening channels throughout the body with postures, visualizations, and meditation.
