Which Yoga Training is Right for Me?

When we talk about yoga, we don’t take into consideration the fact that instead of a single branch, multiple types of yoga help you establish the right balance and strength, helping you relax all the tension, reduce the noise in your mind, and relax.

In case you are a beginner looking to start with their yoga journey, there are a lot of options for you to choose from. Whichever style takes your fancy, you can boost your inner strength, improve your body’s flexibility, and ensure great body balance as well.

Have a look at different types of yoga and their benefits below:

Yoga Poses to Ease Back Pain

Have a look at some of the most recommended yoga for back pain poses to bring you relief:

1. Bikram Yoga

Bikram yoga is a little challenging in the sense that this one is done in a very hot room, that’s at about 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, you should consult your doctor once before going ahead with this ‘hot’ yoga style, as people with issues such as diabetes or hypertension will find it difficult to manage the heat.

There are 26 yoga poses in Bikram yoga.

2. Ashtanga Yoga

Ashtanga yoga involves doing a series of nonstop yoga poses and incorporates a specific breathing technique that allows the mind to focus better while also modulating the flow of your breathing throughout your body.

Ashtanga is also a challenging yoga in essence, if you are just starting.

3. Hatha Yoga

A much gentler yoga form than the two we mentioned above, Hatha yoga means the physical practice of yoga, and not just the focus on breathing techniques and exercises. Hatha yoga has now become a term when a few different yoga practices are combined to create a simple class for helping beginners get the hang of yoga.

4. Iyengar Yoga

Another form of gentle yoga, Iyengar yoga is a slow and detailed process, which is a good option for beginners. Iyengar yoga also involves the use of different props like blocks and belts to get you into yoga poses with the right body alignment.

5. Anusara Yoga

A modern-day version of Hatha yoga, this gentle yoga form begins with chanting and then concludes with a quiet session of meditation. Anusara comprises more than 250 poses from Hatha yoga, but a lot of teachers have their distinct styles as well.

6. Kripalu Yoga

This yoga type begins with slow movements that don’t even cause the slightest, sweat and then moves ahead by taking you through three levels of a more consolidated mind and body awareness.

7. Power Yoga or Vinyasa Flow

Vinyasa flow is one of the most physically challenging and athletic forms of yoga. The sequences are built on the foundation of poses you will find in Ashtanga yoga and help in building increased flexibility and balance. The transition between each pose is also executed in a flow, and thus the name.

If you are just starting yoga, it’s recommended to take a few classes that begin with a slower style to help you get the feel of those yoga poses. This stems from the reason that in power yoga, the amount of individual attention is less, as moving through the power yoga classes is a priority.

8. Jivamukti Yoga

Jivamukti yoga brings together the physical aspects of Vinyasa yoga with the ethical as well as spiritual aspects of ancient yogic scriptures such as veganism and chanting.

How to Choose a Yoga Type?

Each individual has a different level of fitness, which is why you should choose a yoga style according to that. Before finalising one, try out different yoga types and different teachers. To close a particular yoga style, here are a few things you should consider:

Are you fit without any injury, medical condition, or some other issue that could stop you from doing your best?

If this is the case, then you should begin with a slower yoga class that focuses more on alignment, such as Iyengar yoga or Kripalu yoga.

What is your goal from yoga?

If the meditative or spiritual aspects of yoga are your point of focus, then you should try out the yoga styles that have meditation and chanting as their goal values.

Are you looking for fitness from yoga or looking to delve deeper into the mind-body connection aspect?

If fitness is what you are looking for from yoga, then it’s best to go with a more rigorous style of yoga form, like Vinyasa or Ashtanga. Both forms combine athletic yoga poses into a rigorous, full-body yoga workout.

10. What are the Other Benefits of Yoga?

Other than the whole mind-body connection and flexibility, there are a few other benefits of indulging in regular yoga. They are the following:

Weight reduction
Circulatory and cardio health
Better athletic performance
Balanced metabolism
Protection from any injury
Relieves chronic stress patterns
Improves concentration

Yoga FAQs

How to know if I am doing yoga correctly?

If you’re doing yoga without the supervision of a yoga instructor, you might think that you’re doing it wrong. Because different people have different structures and bone health, there’s no one way to perform the yoga poses. It’s about understanding what works well.

How much yoga should I do in a week?

If you practise yoga even once in a whole week, you will begin witnessing the difference. However, you can also do yoga three to four times in a week. However, you mustn’t set unrealistic expectations for yourself.

Can I do yoga if I am expecting?

If you are expecting, it’s advisable to check with your healthcare professional once before starting with yoga.

If you have never done yoga before, you shouldn’t begin with it during the first 3 months of your pregnancy, to let your body adapt to it. Even if you are a regular practitioner, you should avoid poses that involve a lot of turning and twisting.