Types of Yoga

Prana Yoga is a type of yoga that specifically focuses on breathing. All other types of yoga give emphasis to this element, too, but none so much as Prana Yoga does. The word Prana means "vital life energy". In layman terms, this energy is construed as breath, which is otherwise recognized as the fuel running the engine that is our physical body. In the practice of yoga, breathing is essential, as it helps establish a connection between the mind and the body to achieve that fluidity and union. Prana Yoga, therefore, provides that meditative approach to Hatha (physical) Yoga.

Kriya Yoga is heralded as the ultimate meditation technique which will bring you close to achieving Yoga's goal of attaining Nirvana. First endorsed by Paramhansa Yogananda in the book "Autobiography of a Yogi," Kriya Yoga has now developed into a popular practice meant to facilitate and expedite a practitioner's spiritual growth within the modern world. This is, indeed, a far cry from when it was still being practiced in high secret for thousands of years.

Whether it is used as a form of physical exercise or for therapuetic purposes, the benefits of yoga for runners are increasingly being recognized. For an activity that places heavy impact on the knees, ankles, and feet, yoga is a great way to counteract these injury-prone areas while contributing to other ends. Whether your goal is to improve your race times, run more efficiently, or simply having a more enjoyable pursuit of your passion for running with less chances of injury, yoga can surely help you achieve it.

Strength, endurance, flexibility, and mental focus are only a few of the benefits of yoga that can help athletes perform well in their chosen sports. Aside from being a form of physical exercise, yoga is also recognized as a form of healing and therapy that helps athletes recover from their many sports-related injuries.

Bikram yoga is a style of yogic practice developed by Bikram Choudhury, and involves doing a specific set of poses in a particular sequence. In its modern application, Bikram yoga is often interchanged with Hot yoga because both involve doing yoga poses in a heated, sauna-like room. The main difference between the two is that Bikram yoga follows a set sequence of poses, while Hot yoga is more "variable" in terms of the positions taught and practiced.

Restorative Yoga is the same as other styles of yoga in that in also aims to teach students to relax and re-energize the mind, body, and spirit. However, the approach it uses is very distinct. Restorative Yoga poses are typically done with yoga props and accessories like yoga blocks, to provide support and make it easier for the students to do the different positions. It also uses music to give added calmness to the class, and contribute to the over all feeling of gentleness that Restorative Yoga emphasizes.

Anusara is a relatively new style of doing yoga. We say ‘relatively’ because this yogic style was conceived only in 1997. This doesn’t mean, however, that it is not effective in achieving its goal of correcting the body’s alignment and increasing the flexibility of those who practice it.

Anusara yoga is considered by many as one of the more "fun" types of yoga because of its upbeat and cheerful, yet still relaxed, vibe. It is often advertised as the perfect style of yoga for beginners who are hesitant to sign up for "regular" yoga classes because they worry they aren't fit enough to keep up with the lessons. Anusara yoga classes are taught in a pace that the students are comfortable in, and they are encouraged to express themselves physically through poses.

"Ananda Yoga for Higher Awareness", or simply Ananda Yoga, is a style of yoga that equally combines Hatha Yoga (or the art of doing asanas or poses) and the traditional, meditational, and philosophical teachings of yoga. And even though the emphasis of Ananda Yoga is on the spiritual essence of yogic practice, the asanas still form a huge part of its overall practice.

We can go on and on about the many physical, mental, and spiritual benefits of yoga, but to be perfectly honest, a LARGE number of people get into yoga for no other reason than to lose weight. And for a good reason as well, since yoga IS effective in helping you shed pounds in a natural and healthy way while also helping you manage stress better and have an improved overall sense of being.

Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired? Looking for something different? Maybe you are simply in need of some relaxation. True yoga may be just right for you. Yoga has the benefit of being an amazing workout while also being fully customizable. From pre-natal to children's to everything in between, there is truly something for everyone. Combine the amazing workout yoga provides with the spiritual benefits of connecting to yourself. Yoga offers you the chance to be more than you thought you could be; to realize your dreams through a unique connection to your inner power.

The extensive benefits of pure yoga have been documented in details in the ancient Indian scriptures. With time, this practice of combining different body postures with diverse breathing techniques to induce relaxation and offer multiple health benefits has grown to travel around the world and touch many lives. Today an increasing number of people are adopting it to stay healthy and happy. Celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, Gwyneth Paltrow, Madonna, Naomi Watts, Eva Longoria, Jennifer Lopez, and Jessica Biel credit yoga for their enviable figures and find it very easy to follow their routine even while they are traveling as long as they have a yoga mat.

A young practice that originated in India in 1995, laughter yoga is practice that combines laughter with traditional yogic breathing. Aside from breathing, laughter yoga is also performed while doing a number of poses on a yoga mat. The practice is believed to offer a number of health benefits, aside from being a fun and amusing thing to do with just about anyone. With the many health benefits it has purportedly given its proponents, it is no wonder that the movement has quickly made its way to the West.

Yoga is a wonderful way to heal and strengthen the body. In addition, yoga instills calmness in the mind and nurtures the soul. While there are several types of yoga practices, hot yoga is definitely the boot camp of all yoga practices. The optimum temperature of the room is 95 degrees. However, some yoga rooms will have a temperature up to 100 degrees.

Shopping for yoga apparel is not that different from buying typical workout clothes. Both need to be "airy" and breathable, sweat-absorbent, and have a good, comfortable fit. One of the differences however is that yoga apparel needs to be made of material that has good stretch in it. Most yoga apparel are made of a combination of cotton and lycra; cotton is comfortable and does a good job absorbing sweat, while lycra provides the stretch in the clothes that students need to do bends, twists, folds, and other types of yoga poses.

Prenatal yoga can be a great form of exercise for pregnant women. However, even before engaging in any form of exercise it is best to consult your physician. We can read all the pregnancy books in the library but keep in mind that all pregnancies are different. Having said this, you should always exercise prenatal yoga at a pace you’re comfortable with, not putting too much pressure on yourself and your baby.