7 Types of Yoga and their Health Benefits

Over the years, various forms of Yoga have emerged, and they all benefit the body. Apart from physical fitness, Yoga has other unique health benefits that are spiritual and mental. Knowing what you want to achieve, and regularly practicing Yoga can help improve your balance, flexibility, and strength.

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Types of Yoga and Their Benefits

1. Hatha Yoga

Hatha yoga involves a basic and gentle introduction to breathing exercises, meditation, relaxation, and important postures. Therefore, it is suitable for beginners, and with time, you can learn how to incorporate those aspects into the mind. Functional clothing that won’t restrict you is advisable because Hatha Yoga has a slow pace compared to other styles.

2. Vinyasa Yoga

With this type of Yoga, postures are choreographed to create a good flow and a clear connection between movement and breathing. You need to create a seamless pattern as you change from one posture to another. Therefore, this type of Yoga is suitable for creative, restless, and active people who like fast movement. Benefits include increased lung capacity, self-control, and concentration. The fast movement requires you to wear leggings because of the heat your body produces.

3. Anusara Yoga

It is a popular kind of modern Hatha style that mainly focuses on creating a good flow, toning muscles, building strength, improving general body alignment, and improving flexibility. Anusara evens out mind and body imbalances by combining spiritual upliftment with physical improvement.

4. Kundalini Yoga

Kundalini sessions are intense and focus on finding inner peace and clearing the mind by deriving energy from the spine. It is more spiritual than physical, as it encourages meditation. This is the perfect yoga style for people who are stressed out or need reconnection with their inner self. Additionally, it purifies the blood and strengthens your nervous system.

5. Iyengar Yoga

This type of Yoga mainly focuses on improving posture by aligning the spine correctly. Therefore, it is suitable for beginners, people who cannot engage in physical exercise or have suffered an injury, and the elderly. Balls, blocks, and elastics can be used during the session to aid in slow execution and increase concentration. Benefits of Iyengar yoga include body toning, increased flexibility, and improved posture.

6. Bikram Yoga

Bikram is the best option for eliminating toxins and weight loss. There are 26 postures arranged in sequence with 40 degrees temperature. The poses are created to help eliminate toxins through sweating, improve flexibility, and strengthen muscles. The 40-degrees temperature aids in burning up to 600 calories hence boosting weight loss per session.

7. Ashtanga Yoga

Ashtanga is popular with celebrities because of how physically demanding it is hence the name yoga of warriors. If you’re a beginner, this is not the best option for you. One has to do several surynamaskars, followed by floor and standing postures. With this style, you begin with the primary series before graduating to the next level.

The posture sequences are designed to relax your body, work on your suppleness, and endurance through its harmonious flow with breathing. Benefits include improving flexibility, strength, self-control of the body and mind, hence suitable for weight loss.

Bottom Line

Coupled with other spiritual and unique health benefits, Yoga helps blood flow to the muscles. Yoga also aids in relieving stress, weight loss, increasing concentration and self-esteem, improving flexibility, and strengthening your body through various postures in different yoga styles. What’s more, yoga is a great exercise for pain relief.