Hatha, Vinyasa, Ashtanga… Just three Yoga types that you may have heard of before. But do you know there are others, such as Restorative and Yin, just to name a few. In fact, there are a myriad of different types out there, with each achieving a different goal at the end of the session.
So with such a vast array and availability, which would be the one for you? Here’s a quick introduction to each that could help you decide:
Hatha Yoga
The ‘umbrella’ of Yoga types, Hatha is made up of ‘Ha’ (Sun) and ‘Tha’ (Moon), which together means forceful in Sanskrit. In this, ‘opposing’ forces come into balance and unite. And this is what you would learn – balancing strength and flexibility. It is an introduction type for beginners as poses are static and incorporate breathing techniques. This helps you to train your mind to be more present and focus, overall enhancing your well-being.
Vinyasa Yoga
A Yoga type that transits from one pose into another, without any pauses. This is done in sync with your breathing, which can be a challenge to some. As it also tends to be fast-paced, it helps train your strength and endurance – something that may be daunting to the beginner. Further benefits are lowering your stress and anxiety, and increasing physical stability.
Ashtanga Yoga
Considered one of the more physically demanding practices, this type would really push you to challenge your limits. You will be required to synchronise your breathing and movement, resulting in intense internal heat that allows for the profuse sweating. As this is also one of the more spiritual types, you will also learn to focus your mind and train your mental resilience.
Restorative Yoga
With everything going on in our daily lives, we need to learn to relax. This Yoga type helps you to do so, while opening up your body to promote overall well-being. Poses are held much longer to increase strength and flexibility, whilst meditation takes place to help calm the mind. The results are positive – better sleep, increased relaxation, better moods and pain relief.
Yin Yoga
Yin is seen to embody all that is ‘cold’, ‘passive’ and ‘slow’, and as such, Yin Yoga practitioners have to hold poses longer than usual. This is to ensure that the soft, connective tissues (ligaments, tendons and bones) are targeted. These tend to have lesser blood flow to them, thus requiring longer stretching time to receive the benefits such as flexibility, pain relief and better sleep. Do take note though – slow doesn’t equate to easy. You may find some of the poses a bit of a challenge if you’re a complete beginner.
Nritya Yoga
With roots going back for thousands of years, these two ancient traditions of classical Indian dance and yoga are paired together for a further union with sound vibrations that’s wholly Jal Yoga’s. Through these vibrations and sacral energies, you would find your physical self connecting with your spiritual self. With this more unique style that blends different artforms together, your concentration and balance will also increase, and your poses become more graceful.
Array of Types
With such a wide array of types, this debunks the myth that Yoga is ‘slow’ or ‘boring’. Depending on what you’re looking for, it can be a total body workout as well as a challenging experience for some.
And that’s why it’s important to determine your goals at the start as this would determine which class is the right one for you to start off with, especially if you’re a beginner.
Each style of Yoga has its own unique benefits. As such, giving each of them a try will enhance your overall Yoga experience.
You’ll find different takeaways from each Yoga type. At the end of the day, you will come to realise that it targets your body, mind and soul in a more wholesome way, instead of targeting only on specific areas.
So why not give each type a try and start expanding your Yoga journey with our different Yoga types.
