Different styles of yoga aim to achieve spiritual, emotional, or physical balance. Hatha yoga is the most common in the US, Ashtanga is more vigorous, Bikram and Tantra cleanse the body of toxins, Iyengar focuses on correct movement and posture, Kundalini unites body, mind, and spirit, and Ananda seeks to restore Hatha to a pure form. Choosing the right style depends on individual goals and desires.
There are several different styles of yoga, with many of the different schools aimed at achieving some form of spiritual, emotional, or physical balance. Choosing the right style of yoga can take some time, depending on what you want to get out of the practice. Here are some yoga examples, along with the approach that is the ultimate goal of each style of yoga.
In the United States, the practice of Hatha yoga is the most common. Considered by many to be a basic style of yoga based on the more simplistic poses used in the various schools of art, Hatha tends to focus on the individual’s stretching and breath control skills. There are still a number of items that speak to help people achieve a sense of oneness with the spiritual realm as well. As a helpful introduction to yoga, Hatha is a great option.
Ashtanga is a style of yoga that is considered more vigorous than Hatha. Often focused on aerobic sequences of poses, the concept is to harness the body’s natural energy flow and increase endurance. Ashtanga is understood to help flush toxins from the system, utilizing the body’s natural cooling system.
Bikram yoga also seeks to cleanse the body of toxins. Taking place in an environment that is intentionally close to body temperature, this style of yoga relies on physical discipline to create the most effective sweating. Sometimes referred to as hot yoga, Bikram was first introduced in 1971.
The Tantra form of yoga is about expanding consciousness to realize oneness with the universe or Supreme Reality. The idea behind this style of yoga is that all desires are natural and that with unity with the universe, a state of proper management of these desires will be achieved. Tantra yoga is often used as a means to realign consciousness in order to overcome habits that are considered negative or unproductive.
The Iyengar style of yoga is concerned with correct movement and posture, especially in regards to the poses that are used in most yoga practices. Discipline helps build physical stamina, which in turn helps cleanse the mind and spirit. The result is that an individual experiences greater physical and mental health.
Kundalini yoga also seeks to unite body, mind, and spirit through the practice of postures. Borrowing the Sanskrit word for coil, Kundalini poses are intended to place the body in a position where communion between the spiritual and the temporal becomes possible. As a practice to help deal with stress, this style of yoga is very useful.
Ananda represents a school or style of yoga that seeks to restore Hatha to a pure form, freeing that school from some of the innovations of recent years. Like Hatha, Ananda’s practice focuses on general good health, both mental and physical, and avoids the extremes of some of yoga’s more rigid disciplines. As an excellent physical exercise that tends to refresh the mind as well, Ananda is an excellent choice.
Determining the best style of yoga for a particular individual depends largely on the person’s goals and desires. Fortunately, the various schools of yoga can respond to several different approaches, making it possible for people to try various styles until they find the right combination.
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