| In today's stressed out world, yoga has become | | | | practice of Bikram yoga is done in a heated room in |
| very popular as it is proven to help calm the mind, | | | | order to loosen up the muscles and promote |
| release tension and alleviate anxiety. More than just | | | | sweating/cleansing. Towels should be brought to this |
| helping those afflictions, yoga is also well known for | | | | class! Bikram is very intense for beginners and |
| its physical aspects - toning muscles, improving | | | | sometimes practitioners feel nausea and dizziness, |
| flexibility & posture, losing weight, etc. | | | | which is typically caused by dehydration. A person |
| There are numerous benefits of beginning a yoga | | | | should drink more than the minimum of 8 to 10 oz of |
| practice and many different types of yoga from | | | | water during the day before class and not eat |
| which to choose. Just look up "yoga" in the online | | | | immediately beforehand. Also, taking potassium and |
| directory and see all the options! It can be difficult to | | | | salt tablets can assist with this cleansing (sweating) |
| know which type of yoga works best with individual | | | | process. |
| needs, and there is no one "best" yoga to study - | | | | Vinyasa Yoga - This type of yoga can include all |
| only a practice that works differently for each | | | | types of "flow" yoga and is sometimes done with |
| person depending on his or her personality, needs and | | | | music. Vinyasa means "breath-synchronized |
| skill level. | | | | movement" and a pose is done on each inhale and |
| There are Six Main Types of Yoga: | | | | each exhale. There are different types of classes - |
| Hatha Yoga - This is one of the most common | | | | some are slow and some are fast, and this a good |
| practices of yoga, encompassing many of the | | | | type of yoga for beginners. |
| physical types of yoga. Going through many different | | | | Kundalini Yoga - Also focusing an emphasis on the |
| sequences and poses, It is gentle and smooth in its | | | | breath in physical movement, this type of yoga uses |
| moments - excellent for beginners. | | | | rapid, repetitive movements and is high intensity. The |
| Ashtanga Yoga - A type of fast-paced, intense flow | | | | teacher will often lead the class in chanting. This is |
| style of yoga, it means "eight-limbed yoga" in Sanskrit | | | | good for a moderate to expert yoga practitioner as |
| and was written about in the Yoga Sutras by | | | | it refines breathing control (motion, speed and |
| Pantanjali. It is very physically demanding and goes | | | | location) in poses. |
| through the same pose sequence every time. A | | | | There is a yoga style for every individual and you |
| person can go to any Ashtanga class in the world | | | | should try out different types to learn the best fit |
| and do the same sequence of poses. If a class is | | | | for your needs. The majority of yoga schools offer a |
| called "Power Yoga," it will be based on Ashtanga. It | | | | free trial class, and that will help you see whether the |
| is a good class for all levels of yogis and for athletic | | | | yoga style is a match. |
| beginners. | | | | All yoga teachers are different and the right teacher |
| Iyengar Yoga - This practice of yoga focuses on | | | | will make a difference in an individual's practice. Think |
| learning the right alignment and balance within the | | | | about personal preferences: |
| body with postures and movement series. The more | | | | Do you want a teacher that talks throughout the |
| advanced the class, the longer the poses are held (up | | | | class or one that silently observes between poses? |
| to 10 minutes), and this type of yoga uses many | | | | Do you want a teacher that focuses the class on |
| props (belts, blocks, blankets, bolsters). It is an | | | | breathing and allows a long meditation time or one |
| excellent class for beginners as it teaches all asanas | | | | that gives a high-intensity physical workout? Do you |
| and challenges the practitioner to do all types of | | | | want a teacher that is very hands on and adjusts |
| balancing poses, inversions (headstands) and is a | | | | you in poses or do you not like people to touch you? |
| great "foundation" yoga. | | | | Good luck on your yoga journey! |
| Bikram Yoga - Also known as "Hot Yoga," the | | | | |