Aerobic yoga involves faster-paced yoga postures for cardiovascular benefits, but some debate whether it is still yoga. Ashtanga and power yoga are common types, but it is important to have a solid foundation in basic yoga before attempting aerobic yoga to avoid injury.
Aerobic yoga is a style of yoga in which asanas (yoga postures) are sequenced together much faster than normal, to get the heart pumping and offer cardiovascular benefits. Some people debate whether aerobic yoga is really yoga, because the focus on concentration and breathing can be lost by moving so fast. Others prefer this style of yoga because they gain strength and aerobic benefits simultaneously. It is largely a matter of personal preference. There are some common types of yoga that are more aerobic than others; these are power yoga and Ashtanga yoga, but some yoga instructors simply develop their own aerobic programs.
Ashtanga yoga is one of the most common types of aerobic yoga that still follows a “traditional” practice. In this style of yoga, a series of asanas are performed in a predetermined order, usually beginning with a series of sun salutations. Throughout the Ashtanga practice, the practitioner must concentrate intensely on their breathing and maintain a high level of internal concentration. This type of yoga is an extremely challenging aerobic exercise that is said to help purify the body by generating heat and maintaining it throughout the workout.
Another type of yoga, power yoga, is based on the principles of Ashtanga yoga, but may or may not follow the same series of asanas. Some practitioners use power yoga interchangeably with Ashtanga, but others develop their own programs in which the asanas flow seamlessly from one to the other, but at a very rapid pace. Again, this helps get your blood pumping and offers cardiovascular benefits, but it also promotes strength and flexibility due to the stretching found in all forms of yoga. However, there are a few factors to consider before attempting any type of aerobic yoga.
It’s much easier to injure yourself doing aerobic yoga than any other type, and it’s not a good choice for beginners. Anyone who practices aerobic yoga should already have a solid foundation in the basics and a regular practice routine. This will help ensure that he or she doesn’t push herself into challenging poses too early, or try to jump into a pose she’s not ready for. The nature of aerobic yoga makes it more difficult to do the minor corrections and alignments in each pose that are such an important aspect of yoga in general. Therefore, it is important not to try it without having a lot of experience.
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