We’ll introduce you to the five most popular kinds of this ancient practice
We know Yoga has become one of the favorite physical activities in these modern times. While some approach Yoga as a means to stretch, relax, work out and chill out, others get the benefits it brings on working more deeply on one being, a path of transformation in terms of spiritual growth and development.
Although Yoga may be about 10,000 years old, according to some researchers, it hasn’t stopped drawing fans all over the world and a number of different varieties have emerged along its history. Read on to learn about the five most popular kinds of Yoga and find out which one suits you best!
- Hatha
Is one of the most practiced kinds of Yoga in the United States, according to LiveStrong.com. It emphasizes uniting the body, breath and mind into one entity. Hatha was originated in northern India more than 5,000 years ago, in a time where the Brahmas and mystic seers of civilization taught Yoga as an exercise for the mind, rather than the body.
Most Hatha sessions consist of warm up exercises, followed by Surya Namaskar or sun salutation, the 12 Asanas, Pranayama breathing and Savasana, a final position of relaxation that allows you to tune with your body and be aware of every internal sensation. Classes last about 90 minutes and can be practiced every day, with no age limitation.
2. Kundalini
A physical, mental and spiritual discipline that takes into account different postures, breathing exercises, mantras and meditation, aiming to balance energetic points in the body, known as chakras.
According to the Kundalini Research Institute, “The primary objective [of Kundalini] is to awaken the full potential of human awareness in each individual; that is, recognize our awareness, refine that awareness, and expand that awareness to our unlimited Self. Clear any inner duality, create the power to deeply listen, cultivate inner stillness, and prosper and deliver excellence in all that we do.”
Classes go about an hour and a half, start off with mantras followed by Asanas and Kriyas and they finish up with relaxing exercising and meditation. It helps the digestive and nervous system, heart-functioning and the body overall. There’s no limit on the frequency of the practices a week and it can be done by children and adults.
3. Ashtanga
Popsugar.com reviews on Ashtanga Yoga: “If you’re a runner, cyclist, skier, rider, climber, swimmer, or have a Type A, high-energy, can’t-sit-still kind of personality, sign yourself up for Ashtanga yoga. This type of yoga is challenging, quick-paced, and just the thing to open your tight hamstrings, hips, and shoulders”.
Ashtanga yoga has been taught by the late Pattabhi Jois since 1948, and it involves a set sequence of poses that a practitioner follows in the exact same order every time. Most ashtanga yogis are practicing Primary Series, which follows this sequence: Five Sun Salutation As, Five Sun Salutation Bs, the Standing Sequence, the Primary Series (Seated Postures), and the Closing Sequence. The beauty of the repetition is that since each class is the same, you can visit any studio in the world, and you’ll be able to do the exact same class you do at home.
4. Acroyoga
This practice blends the wisdom of Yoga, the dynamic power of acrobatics and the loving kindness of healing arts. On each class, students emerge from their own focus and share with the rest of participants. You can’t do Acroyoga alone. It is a practice that cultivates bonding and community.
Instructors may talk about “Kula” that is Sanscrit for “Familiy” or “Group”, while it might also be translated as “the community of the heart”. So we can say that the most striking difference between acroyoga and any other style of yoga is that most of the working class is done with other participants, in groups of two, three or more people.
5. Bikram Yoga
Bikramyogasetauket.com refers the origins of this practice that most of us directly associate with a room at 90 ͦ with a bunch of people pounding sweat over their mats: “Bikram yoga was founded by Bikram Choudhury, who was born in Calcutta in 1946 and started practicing yoga at four years old under Bishnu Ghosh. At 17, Choudhury suffered a knee injury that led European doctors to believe that he would never walk again. Six months later, yoga had healed his knee completely and he began to understand the importance of the 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises.
Once he developed his system, it was time to share it with the world. He founded Bikram’s Yoga College of India, and has subsequently changed the lives of millions of people who previously suffered from chronic pain, as well as a host of other maladies”.
Instructors recommend, as with most Yoga varieties, to make each posture only to the point where your body allows you to, and never force a particular asana.
Bikram Yoga sessions consist, in most Yoga centers, of 26 Asanas with two breathing exercises and there a myriad benefits from its constant practice. It goes from muscle strength and toning, revitalizing nerves, brains and tissues, relieving arthritis, rheumatism, and gout in the legs to balancing sugar levels, helping cure chronic sinusitis and tonsillitis, without mentioning the development of concentration, patience, self-esteem, support of peace of mind, inner balance and so much more!…
There are still left a whole lot of different Yoga varieties. You can choose from either one of these, explore what’s more out there or try them all.