At last, you’ve made up your mind to start practicing yoga, but after intense research online, you are baffled by the vastness of yoga and the types to choose from. Should you go for the Iyengar system or the Ashtanga system? And what is meant by Hatha yoga? What’s the difference between Hatha yoga and Vinyasa? These are common questions any beginner will have.
It would be best if you weren’t breaking your head over the many systems because a mix of all rolled into a cross-training regimen can do a lot of good and hardly any harm. Did you know that yoga can actually be customized according to your body type and flexibility? Check out the details and major differences between these practices at online resources like https://www.yoga.health/blog/hatha-yoga-vs-vinyasa-yoga.
Here are some types of yoga you may try for the perfect fitness regimen:
Hatha Yoga
Hatha yoga is suitable for beginners as it is all about yoga basics, and the classes are often slow, and you don’t get to spend more than a few seconds on each pose. It gives an excellent opportunity to familiarize yourself with each pose’s tongue-twisting names and the nuances behind the poses. This gentle yoga form is perfect for beginners, where the emphasis is on physical practice.
Vinyasa Yoga
This yoga is a more dynamic practice that trains you to perfect coordination between breath and movement and inhale, hold, and release. The poses don’t last for more than a few seconds, and the transition to the next pose is almost immediate. Such a quick transition may raise your heart rate slightly, which is no great cause for concern.
Vinyasa yoga is good for burning calories and is a favorite for people who plan to lose weight. The continuous movement involved in Vinyasa yoga is good for the heart as it pumps faster and promotes better blood circulation.
Iyengar Yoga
Iyengar yoga is of recent origin, and it is specially designed with precision and detail in mind. Iyengar yoga focuses on body alignment, and there is a generous use of props like yoga blocks, straps, and blankets, which most beginners will love.
This type of yoga is safe for beginners, though it can be slightly strenuous for beginners. That’s why beginners should take it easy initially and linger at the basic level until they gain more confidence.
The good thing with Iyengar yoga is that it suits all ages, and people with injuries are recommended this yoga as it is safe. However, it is safer to consult your doctor before enrolling if recovering from some serious injury.
Ashtanga Yoga
Ashtanga is a more scientific form of yoga as it is based on order. Ashtanga yoga can be slightly challenging for some as it involves sequenced yoga poses that call for breath control.
It could be somewhat monotonous as there is a repetition of the same poses in every class, with the teacher either leading by striking each pose or merely calling out the pose by name for the students to follow and practice. As Ashtanga yoga involves perfection, practitioners must strictly follow the guidelines and always go by the book.
Summing it Up
Although yoga is very ancient, it has been evolving. This evolution is evident from the improvisations added to the Iyengar system of yoga to facilitate a wider age-group and open to learning for more people. Choosing the type of yoga that suits you best is essential, as each style has its specialties.