Yoga has gone from being a simple fashion to becoming one of the most practiced disciplines in the world due to its great benefits on an emotional, physical and spiritual level. It is an ancient practice in which the body and mind are aligned through different "asanas" or postures and breath control. Whether you just want to relax or prefer a more physically demanding yoga class, there are different types of yoga to suit a variety of needs.
How many types of yoga are there and what are they? In the following Psychology-Online article we will explain the types of yoga and their characteristics so you can choose what type of yoga is best for you according to your requirements in order to have an optimal personal experience.
Index
- Benefits of practicing yoga
- hatha yoga
- ashtanga yoga
- Yoga Nindra
- kundalini yoga
- Bikram Yoga
- jivamukti yoga
- prenatal yoga
- Iyengar Yoga
- vinyasa yoga
- Yin Yoga
- therapeutic yoga
- power yoga
Benefits of practicing yoga.
On average, there are about 100 types of yoga known to the Eastern and Western world. Whichever you choose, it is a discipline that will bring you enormous benefits and improvements in your physical and mental health.
Here are some of the main benefits of practicing yoga regularly:
- Your body will be more flexible and it will improve your physical well-being.
- It will increase your muscle mass and your physical strength.
- You will feel less stress and you will sleep better.
- You will feel more energy level.
- If you suffer from chronic pain, you will feel much better.
- Chances of injury are reduced and you can increase performance in sports.
Now that you know some benefits of yoga, then we explain how many types of yoga exist and what their characteristics are, as well as other factors such as which is the most difficult type of yoga or which is the most complete yoga.
Hatha Yoga.
We start with a type of yoga that is perfect for those who are starting out in this practice due to its low level of intensity and its innumerable benefits. Hatha Yoga focuses on working with the physical body through postures and techniquesbreathing to achieve a balance between body and mind.
Now, what characteristics does Hatha Yoga have? First, the postures or asanas are a fundamental part of the practice, and are performed in a slow and controlled manner, paying attention to the sensations of the body and the breath. In addition, this type of yoga uses breathing techniques, known as "pranayama", which help calm the mind and control the flow of energy in the body.
On the other hand, its main characteristics also include the practice of relaxation, which allows the body and mind to rest and recover after physical activity.
Ashtanga-yoga.
This type of yoga is more specific because it is based on structured movements that must be performed in a sequential order, which is why resembles the choreography of a dance.
It is a style of yoga in which the participants advance in movements as the teacher or yogi considers that they can advance. The movements go to the rhythm of the breath and each person moves at their own rhythm. In general, each session usually lasts between 90 minutes and an hour and practiced in complete silence.
Yoga Nindra.
Yoga Nidra is the perfect alternative for those who are looking for a type of yoga that is perfect for relaxation. What this practice seeks is to relax the mind with 20-minute sessions dedicated to deep sleep, combined with slight stretching. In Sanskrit, yoga Nidra can be translated as "mental dream yoga" or psychic dream yoga.
This style of yoga was developed by the teachers Swami Satyananda Saraswati and Swami Sivananda. who set out to reach that zone that lies between the states of wakefulness and the states of sleep. dream. Its main characteristic is that is carried out laying in a horizontal position in the savasana posture and you can even use a blanket to cover yourself.
kundalini yoga.
This is one of the oldest types of yoga that combines asanas, breathing, and meditation. It is based on the well-known "yoga sutras" and on different mantras to achieve the leveling of the chakras.
kundalini yoga focuses on breathing and chanting or mantras to reach a state of extreme relaxation, which releases the energy in the seven chakras of the body established by oriental philosophy.
Bikram Yoga.
The main characteristic of Bikran yoga is that consists of 26 postures or pranayamas who practice hot, specifically in a room that should be around 40 ° C. It is a type of yoga with quite strict rules and each class lasts about 90 minutes.
The goal of this type of yoga is to improve flexibility and rid the body of toxins through sweat, which is why it is also known as "hot yoga."
Image: Yoga Library
Jivamukti yoga.
Jivamukti means "Living Liberation." The Jivamukti Yoga method is one of the traditional types of yoga that is based on ancient traditions and is based on five pillars or concepts that try to foster a deep spirituality.
In addition, the Jivamukti sequences, its postures and its principles serve to work on compassion and the meaning of life.
prenatal yoga.
If you are pregnant, practicing this type of yoga will give you many benefits because it Helps relieve the aches and pains of pregnancy, while reducing your stress and taking care of your body and peace of mind.
The poses in this type of yoga are controlled in order to prepare the body to go through the pregnancy in a calm way and prepare it for the moment of delivery. In this article you will find some yoga exercises for pregnant women.
Iyengar Yoga.
Iyengar Yoga is a form of yoga that focuses on alignment and accuracy of postures, known as asanas. This type of yoga was developed by B.K.S. Iyengar, who believed that the practice of yoga should be accessible to everyone, regardless of age, ability, or physical condition.
In this mode, tools such as blocks, belts, and blankets are used to help students reach the goals. poses safely and effectively, while maintaining constant attention to the breath and the connection between mind and body.
Vinyasa yoga.
Vinyasa is one of the most active types of yoga, since during its practice the body must adapt to demanding movements that go to the rhythm of breathing. The asanas can be standing, inverted, in balance, among other movements, which have dynamism as their main characteristic.
Yin Yoga.
Yin Yoga is a relaxing and calm style of yoga that helps you connect with yourself and your body. It is derived from Hatha Yoga, in which the postures are held in a relaxed manner for between 2 and 5 minutes. The idea is to take advantage of your own weight and the force of gravity to loosen the muscles and allow vital energy to flow better through the body, for which the muscles must be very relaxed.
Therapeutic yoga.
At present, therapeutic yoga is widely used, which focuses on the use of postures (asanas), the breathing (pranayama) and meditation to treat and prevent different physical and mental health problems. emotional.
Unlike conventional yoga where sequences of postures are practiced in a general way, in therapeutic yoga a personalized practice is designed for each person according to their needs specific and according to what the therapist determines for each patient.
Power Yoga.
You may be wondering what is the most difficult type of yoga. As its own name already indicates, Power Yoga, this is one of the most demanding types of yoga because it requires excellent flexibility and being in very good physical shape.
This type of yoga is perfect for toning the body and gaining greater flexibility, while helping with various cognitive functions such as attention, memory, and concentration.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
If you want to read more articles similar to Types of yoga and their characteristics, we recommend that you enter our category of meditation and relaxation.
Bibliography
- Calle, R. (2019). the big book of yoga. Mandala Editions.
- Turon, d. (2012). Yoga and meditation. Live and coexist in peace. Learning to live with oneself and with the environment, 183-203.