What Are the Different Types of Yoga?

When getting started with yoga, it's a good idea to explore the different types, and what they can do for you. There are several different types of yoga and you really need to choose the one that you believe will give you the most benefits for what you are trying to achieve.

However, don't worry too much about picking the "right" type, as all forms of yoga will add benefit no matter which one you choose because the various types of yoga will always focus on creating calm and balance in the mind and body, while helping to increase strength, flexibility and overall fitness at the same time.

A yoga class. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

What many people regard as the most extreme form of yoga is Bikram yoga (sometimes known as "hot yoga) where the routines are performed in heated rooms where the temperature is set at 95 degrees or more. However, for some people this can add stress to their exercises and for that reason there are some people who believe that performing under those conditions is detrimental to your health.

People who use the Bikram yoga on a regular basis believe that the increased temperatures help to relax and cleanse your body and in doing so give you more benefits over the standard forms of yoga.

The more common form of yoga that you will find in most fitness centers throughout the country is Hatha Yoga. This is probably the best form of yoga for you to choose if you haven't done any form of this exercise in the past as it will teach you all the basic types of poses that will also be applicable to various other forms of yoga if you intend to move into those other areas at a later date.

Hatha yoga is excellent for people who haven't done much exercise previously and for elderly people as all the movements are slow and relaxing and will assist in helping you to gain more flexibility without too much concern of injury.

One step up from Hatha Yoga is Vinyasa yoga which is performed at a faster pace and focuses a lot on breathing during the movements. The stretches that are involved in Vinyasa yoga are more advanced than those in Hatha and are possibly not quite as suitable for a beginner.

There are many other variations of yoga apart from these that I just mentioned but they all have the same philosophy of getting the mind and body to work as one to bring about balance in your life. We will explore some of these, as well as tips for getting the most out of your yoga practice, in the next few weeks, so be sure to stay tuned!