Yoga is a discipline that's been practised for thousands of years and has evolved and expanded over time. At its core, though, it hasn't changed. Its essence remains the union of mind, body, and the outside world.
However, over the years, it has evolved into different types or styles. Although these different styles maintain the essence, they also have important differences and orientations. That's why, yoga is for everyone. You can practice and go with the flow that best suits you. Whether you're someone who doesn't like physical exercise, or, are a fan of discipline and muscular effort, there's a type of yoga out there for you.
What is the best type of yoga?
We must make it clear that no type of yoga is better than another. They simply respond to different objectives and cover different needs. What's good for one isn't always good for another. It all depends on what you want to achieve, your personality, the time you have available, and many other factors. So, you should focus on finding the type of yoga that's best for you.
Ohmayoga is an online yoga academy, accredited by Yoga Alliance, that guides students on how to start, and advance, in their yoga practice. Our Rishikesh-certified gurus also advise on how to find the perfect type of yoga.
How to choose the right type of yoga for you
Everyone is different, and everyone has different routines throughout their lives. To know what's the right type of yoga for you, you must objectively evaluate your needs and possibilities, both, physical and emotional. Of course, you should also educate yourself about the different types of toga that exist and which would be the most suitable for you. Alternatively, you can just enrol in a yoga style randomly to test the waters. Keep in mind that if you don't feel comfortable, it doesn't mean that yoga isn't for you, but that it's just not your style.
Below, we'll take you through some of the most popular yoga styles, and which one would be the most suitable for you, according to your personality and your need.
- Hatha yoga for the traditional
This is the most popular style, and the one you'll find most often. It develops the traditional aspects of yoga and is usually the style that beginners try first. In general, the postures are basic, and the classes are gentle and calm. Hatha yoga is ideal for beginners, conservative, and persevering people. Although it provides all the mental and physical benefits of yoga, it's a style that requires time to show results.
- Vinyasa yoga for the restless
If you're a creative, spontaneous, and very active person, Vinyasa yoga is probably the most suitable for you. Especially if you like fast movements and music. This type of yoga works on the coordination of movement and breathing, resulting in fluid movements. This fluidity results in constant oxygenation, and develops your lungs by strengthening the respiratory system. The routines vary from session to session, but usually, postures are joined one after the other, dynamically and fluidly, to create a sequence.
- Kundalini yoga for the reflective
Kundalini yoga is perfect if you don't like excessive physical movement, and are more of a slow mover and focus on the spiritual. Kundalini is a combination of asanas, breathing, mudras (hand postures), mantras, and meditation. It focuses on the spiritual and, in meditation, seeks to balance and open the chakras to heal ailments and prevent them. The different series work the glandular and nervous systems to renew the body's energy and reduce stress. Above all, it's designed to awaken the body's energy.
- Ashtanga yoga for the competitive
If you have an energetic, demanding, competitive, and dynamic personality, Ashtanga yoga is probably the right style for you. This style of yoga emphasises mainly physical endurance and discipline. The breathing in this type of yoga relaxes the mind while working on the body's flexibility and endurance. Ashtanga helps to improve self-control of the mind and body. It's a very good practice to eliminate stress through muscular work that brings mental calmness.
- Iyengar yoga for the methodical
In Iyengar yoga, the most important thing is body alignment. For this reason, it's perfect for those who are methodical and seek to achieve the best results on a mental and physical level. In this type of yoga, all asanas are practised with great concentration and awareness of each movement. Precise movements, accompanied by proper breathing, result in meditation in movement. Above all, Iyengar yoga helps you to achieve body balance and equilibrium along with mental serenity.
- Bikram yoga for the rigorous
This type of yoga is performed in a temperature-controlled room at 40°C, thanks to which, you can burn a lot of calories in one session. Bikram yoga is based on a sequence of 26 postures. These postures are designed to work and strengthen the muscles at the same time that toxins are eliminated through sweat. This style of yoga is ideal for demanding people and lovers of discipline. Bikram yoga shouldn't be confused with hot yoga, which is basically doing Hatha or Vinyasa in a hot room.
These are just some of the popular types of yoga that exist. As you advance in your practice, you can always change styles or explore others. It's all about finding what works for you, because yoga is about connecting with yourself.
If you want professional advice on which type of yoga is best for you, you can book a FREE consultation with us. If you're already a yoga practitioner and would like to become a yoga instructor, you can sign-up for one of our online yoga teacher training courses that are approved by Yoga Alliance.
