YOGA AND AASANM :1

Different Types of Yoga and Their Benefits

        If you are looking for a yoga practice to help you ease stress, detoxify, and become more centered, one of the following three styles should suit you well:

• Restorative

As its name implies, Restorative Yoga is designed to help repair and restore the mind as well as the body by centering your breath and your body.  It involves doing five slow poses which are held for an extended period, sometimes using props.

• Viniyoga

Vini means adaptive and it explains this yoga style well.  Able to be customized to the individual’s needs and goals, it is ideal for people with physical limitations and those who are rehabilitating from an injury.

• Ananda

Ananda yoga is based around gentle poses that move energy and prepare the mind and body for a calm state and meditation.
If you’re looking for a challenging style of yoga that builds strength as it improves your fitness, the following three styles fit the bill:

• Ashtanga (or Astanga)
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This quick-paced yoga will help you build strength as it improve your flexibility and endurance.  The poses are done in the same order without a break in between.  Each pose is held for five breaths and includes a half sun salutation.  This fast pace makes it more physically demanding than some other yoga styles.

• Power Yoga or Power Vinyasa 

Power yoga is one of the most physically challenging yoga styles.  When practiced as hot yoga you will be working in a studio heated to around 105 degrees Fahrenheit with 40% humidity.  Designed to improve strength and flexibility, it is useful for detoxing and it devotees say it can aid weight loss.

• Bikram

Bikram Yoga is a comprehensive workout that also falls in the hot yoga category.  It involves doing 26 postures including two breathing exercises  that improve endurance, strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular health.