There is an abundance of different kinds of yoga that India-the land of Yoga and Spirituality, takes pride in. From the manners we practice to the movements we create or make, the styles of yoga tend to vary hugely. The term ‘Yoga’ denotes union-the fruitful combination of movement and breath, of breath and body, of body and spirit or soul, and any other sort of union one can think of. This very idea of union forms the essence of all yoga practices, involving the Most Common Types of Yoga as well, serving as a wellbeing to human mind, body, and spirit or soul.
Most Common Types of Yoga & the Key Differences Between These Physical Practices:
To start with, Ashtanga Yoga is considered to be one of the Most Common Types of Yoga in the knowledge of Yoga Philosophy and yogic texts. Ashtanga is broken down and divided into six different series-Primary, Intermediate, and four Advanced. Each series builds upon the strength, mobility, and flexibility, having a set of sequence of yoga postures with each starting off with Surya Namaskars-considered to be the prime aspect of all yoga postures. Being popularized by the yoga exponent, Sri K Pattabhi Jois, the main benefits of practicing Ashtanga yoga in a consistent manner include instilling and cultivation of discipline and monitoring progress. Going by the knowledge of yoga, it’s one of the most vigorous kinds of yoga one requires to practice and preach for achieving holistic rejuvenation and overall wellbeing.
Going hand-in-hand with Ashtanga Yoga is the Mysore-style yoga-one of the Most Common Types of Yoga. Mysore style yoga is where the students and yoga aspirants generally practice the Ashtanga series at their own pace along with their own breath. Students appear together to share space for practicing this yoga, but there’s no one leading or dictating their yoga postures and forms. A few teachers or yoga instructors may be around though for offering adjustments as one practices this Mysore-style yoga.
Hatha Yoga (Hatha which also translates more generally into any form or kind of physical asana practice), one of the Most Common Types of Yoga, is another type of yoga posture most suitable for beginners or freshers. In fact, many advanced yoga practitioners also practice, getting benefitted from the Hatha Yoga as this practice involves a slow pace thereby spending more, rather, a considerably longer period of time in each posture. It’s typically way more gentler than Ashtanga yoga, and less slowly than Vinyasa yoga.
Vinyasa Yoga is also one of the Most Common Types of Yoga-a more contemporized version and style of yoga practice incorporating one breath to one movement. 200 Vinyasa Flow classes tend to vary enormously as the structure of the yoga class is entirely dependent on the individual yoga teachers’ style and creativity, taking the form of a nice, diverse practice for students and yoga wannabes wanting to embrace and propagate it in the long run. Vinyasa classes tend to focus on a particular yoga posture or body part, for instance, working towards a sirsasana (headstand) or a heart opening flow. This Vinyasa yoga classes usually fall between the duration of 60 to 90 minutes that will make you literally sweat a lot!
In order to complement our yang practices of Ashtanga, Hatha, and Vinyasa yoga, we have got Yin, which is also one of the Most Common Types of Yoga. In this type of yoga, the focus is primarily on relaxation and stillness, holding each posture for 3 to 5 minutes duration. In fact, Yin yoga is the most passive form of yoga, which signifies that one is not utilizing his/her strength and energy for holding onto the postures, but instead, he/she does focus on relaxing, surrendering, and letting go. This enables the students to make time to really focus on themselves, internalize the yoga practice, and relax into a meditative state of being.
To conclude, there are also other varied forms and styles of yoga such as Iyengar, Bikram, Kundalini, Karma, etc. However, it should be kept in mind that the sole and essential aim and purpose of any type of yoga, precisely, the Most Common Types of Yoga, is to honor the notion of union that resonates with his/her being thereby striking a chord deep within oneself.
Learn and master the Most Common Types of Yoga at Diya Yoga–Yoga Alliance RYS200 school situated in Mandrem-a small town in North Goa, India. Our best yoga teacher training programs merge ancient Vedic knowledge with modern asanas taught by skilled and competent Indian and International yoga teachers or instructors. We deliver a comprehensive theoretical and practical training program during our 24-day structured course. Upon completion of our teacher training course in Goa, one’ll emerge as a confident yoga teacher and yoga motivator/instructor ready to impart yoga lessons to students and yoga enthusiasts. Join us in our noble and humble effort to spread the all-round benefits of the magical, rather, miraculous Yoga far and wide!