Tuesday, October 02, 2007

What Yoga Class Should I Begin With? - Description of Yoga Styles for Beginners
By Logan McKnight


Yoga is gaining popularity in the western world, which raises the question to those who want to begin practicing… What yoga class should I start with?

Iyengar yoga is a really good style for beginners because it uses props, such as blocks and a belt, as aids in the different postures. It is extremely structured and focuses on the structural alignment of the physical body through development of postures (asanas).

Every style is based on asanas but each has a different emphasis. Below is a summary of other popular yoga styles that are good to begin with.

IyengarThe focus of Iyengar yoga is on body alignment. Props such as blocks and straps allow beginners to flow in asanas more easily. As oppose to moving quickly from pose to pose, Iyengar focuses on holding poses over long periods.

HathaHatha is a general term that embodies all forms of yoga. Courses defined as Hatha Yoga are generally slower and more gentle, making it another great course for beginners.

VinyasaA term that means breath-synchronized movement, Vinyasa is based on a series of poses called Sun Salutations. The focus is on the breath during the salutations, connecting it with the muscles that are being challenged and stretched.

BikramBikram yoga is practiced in a heated room (95-100 degrees), which allows for every muscle to relax and deepen into the series of 26 poses. With the room hot and humid, sweat pours from every pore, cleansing the body of impurities.

KundaliniOne of the purposes of Kundalini yoga is to free energy in the lower body by moving it up. Kundalini uses fast, repetitive movements and the breath to move deeper into each pose.
Read more on styles of yoga and see pictures of different poses. Anyone can practice yoga and benefit from it.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FREE articles about self-help, self improvement, wellness, holistic health, and fitness. To see our full line of e-Books visit: www.ebooks4selfhelp.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------