Yoga is a movement practice that promotes physical and mental health in both adults and children. There are several types of yoga, such as Vinyasa, Hatha, and Iyengar, that contain movements that are similar to each other but yet different. Below is more information on the three different types of yoga and the general benefits of practicing yoga.
Vinyasa yoga
Vinyasa means “to place in a special way” in terms of posture, and it is also known as the most athletic form of yoga. The way to practice vinyasa is to correlate the movements with breaths. Depending on your instructor, the pose sequence can change. Some key poses include chair pose, downward facing dog, upward facing dog, and side angle.
Hatha Yoga
Hatha means physical postures of yoga therefore, it contains different styles that focus on the physical practice of yoga. It is great for those who are beginners because they are slow-paced and targets the general approach to breathing and exercising. Types of Hatha include mountain, standing forward fold, and triangle pose.
Iyengar Yoga
Iyengar’s focal point is alignment and precise movement. To perform this type of yoga, you have to control your breathing while performing the postures. These precise movements often rely on props to help you with your form safely. It is a preferred method for those who are injured. Iyengar-style poses include camel and one-legged king pigeon pose.
According to NIH research, it was found that yoga can
- Improve your overall wellness
- Help you with stress
- Support you in eating healthy and staying active
- Improve your mental and emotional health
- Help you sleep
- Improve your balance
- Help you lose weight and manage weight
- Relieve menopause symptoms (ex: hot flashes, anxiety, and depression)
- Manage chronic disease symptoms and improves your quality of life
- Help you quit smoking
- Manage anxiety and depressive symptoms
- Help you manage pain in your back and neck, as well as headaches
Here is an at home yoga workout for beginners! And check out our post on Morning Yoga Routines!
Reference
https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/yoga-what-you-need-to-know
https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/a36739783/vinyasa-yoga/
