Yoga is an ancient practice that is now widely accepted and enjoyed by approximately 30 million people in the USA alone. One of the main reasons Yoga is appreciated so much is that numerous disciplines can be practiced by people of all ages, physical fitness levels, and body types.
While many types of Yoga disciplines have been created by enthusiastic and professional Yoga instructors, they have applied their own methods to four basic types. Each type of Yoga discipline is designed to contribute different aspects such as energy alignment, body toning, and strength increase. However, most Yoga disciplines can take years to learn, and regular practice is required. Some of the best Yoga disciplines for beginners are as follows.
Iyengar Yoga – Getting Well
Iyengar Yoga is excellent for those who have suffered an injury and require some help restoring the affected area to full strength and relieving the associated pain. This discipline is instrumental because it is based on the alignment of internal physical structures such as muscle, bone, and spine. It is therefore useful for helping your body recover in addition to treatment by a professional chiropractor and physiotherapy. However, poses are held for longer than usual when compared to other disciplines and may be uncomfortable to maintain.
Restorative Yoga – Relieve Tension
Similar to Iyengar, restorative Yoga aims to relieve pressure and tension of the muscles. However, the discipline includes many props for aid. Thus, it is more of a passive system designed to help with everyday issues. Issues such as sore muscles stemming from sitting at an office desk all day, for example. Because of the props involved for aid, restorative Yoga is one of the best for beginners and requires minimal effort. Yet, the benefits are just as powerful as other disciplines.
Hatha Yoga – Original Understanding
You will undoubtedly have heard of Hatha Yoga. Hatha Yoga is essentially any Yoga that involves movement. Still, it is also considered the original form introduced to Western culture. Therefore, Hatha Yoga is one of the most highly recommended disciplines for beginners since it introduces many of the principal poses found throughout all other disciplines. However, even though Hatha contains a robust pose list, practitioners or beginners of this discipline are not expected to perform advanced poses or overexert their bodies.
Anusara Yoga – General Relaxation
If you are looking for a beginner’s discipline based more on Yoga’s philosophical and spiritual aspect, then Anusara is perfect. Unlike most other Yoga disciplines, Anusara does not require long and strenuous poses that exert tension on the body. Instead, it is designed for maximum peace, strength of mind, and relaxation. The term Anusara roughly translates as “flowing with grace and nature to follow your heart.”
Power Yoga – High Intensity
Whether you are new to Yoga or not, you will benefit from Power Yoga if you are of a certain fitness level. However, some familiarity with lower intensity Yoga, such as Hatha, is advised. Suppose you feel confident enough to attend power Yoga even as a beginner. In that case, this is the best type of Yoga for building muscle and maximizing fitness. The high-intensity, heat-building exercises, stretches, and poses make Power Yoga an excellent discipline for those looking to quickly burn body fat while increasing their understanding of the philosophy.
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