Tag: John Friend

Yoga positions and poses have a history of more than five thousand years and were first practiced in ancient India. Today yoga has a global appeal with millions across the continents including it into their daily routine. Although the yoga positions and yoga poses seem to be identical, the effort and stress given for each and every pose differs.

A person wishing to practice yoga should first research about various yoga types and the results they offer and choose the most appropriate branch of yoga that meets his or her requirements. Given are some of the most practiced yoga types in America:

Hatha Yoga is touted as the most practiced physical yoga in the West. Hatha Yoga is one among the 6 main yoga branches comprising of the latest Bikram and Ahtanga. This yoga is practiced before you start meditating.

Anusara Yoga was developed by John Friend in 1997 and is believed to be one of the latest in yoga types. The yoga poses does not merely prepare your body for physical strength but rather addresses the unseen layers of spirituality, feelings and bonding towards fellow beings, unlocking the heart and mind of students.

Ashtanga Yoga, when compared to other yoga types is an energy consuming one with a large number of yoga positions changing in a pre determined set of yoga poses. This yoga comes before the Power yoga. Although both the Ashtanga and Power yoga poses are laborious, the latter does not have any set rule of yoga position change.

Bikram Yoga takes into account multiple facets of a person”s body including, heart, general body physique and health. This style is also called as Hot Yoga due to the fact that it is practiced inside a room with temperatures in the range of 95-105 Fahrenheit. This yoga makes the body muscles fit for other yoga positions by loosening it. Sweating also detoxifies your system.

Iyengar Yoga focuses on the structural arrangement of human body. Using various supports from blankets to blocks, this yoga unlike Ashtanga, retains each yoga pose for long period.

Integral Yoga takes in it a lot of Hatha yoga positions along with spiritual mediation, soft chants and prayers. The yoga found by Sri Swami Sachidanda also has deep breathing techniques.

Kundalini Yoga will need speedy and calculated change of poses with stress on meditation, deep inhalation and soft chants with more focus on the spiritual aspect.

Prenatal Yoga is a yoga type that can be practiced by pregnant woman helping them attain more flexibility to their muscles and the pelvic floor. thereby reducing pregnancy related pain and promoting healthy child birth. Prenatal yoga positions have been developed keeping in view the stages of pregnancy and the needs at each stage. It can also be practiced after delivery.

Above mentioned are just a few of the larger group of yoga types across the world. Yoga positions have been proven to provide the endurance and vigor required by the stiff body. While different yoga styles, stand segregated on their effort and stress requirement, their final goal remains the same, strengthening of body and mind. It has also been proved that yoga positions tend to relieve pain and can bring blood pressure and cholesterol to healthy levels. The large number of yoga classes and their resourceful trainers helps a person wishing to practice yoga to select the best one for him considering his or her needs, goals and lifestyle.

Yoga, the North Indian form of exercise has a cultural history dating back to over five thousand years and is currently being practiced by millions worldwide. The application and distinction of the yoga poses and yoga positions hugely depend on the style of yoga you choose to practice.

As different styles are practiced for different needs, it is advisable to find out the best form of yoga that is suited for you if you intend to reduce your weight or focus on health. Please go through the list given below regarding the various types of yoga being taught in various parts of the United States:

Hatha Yoga is a term that is widely used to refer to the yoga practiced at the physical level. It is also the most popular kind of yoga practiced in the west. Bikram and Ashtanga are two modern systems that are covered in hatha yoga. Hatha yoga positions are performed in order to prepare the body for strenuous meditation that follows.

Anusara Yoga is a type of yoga that is comparatively new. John Friend created this type of yoga in 1997 by emphasizing not only on yoga poses but also on emotional, spiritual and social side of the exercise. The idea is to establish a link between the divine within ourselves and others.

Ashtanga Yoga is considered to be a more strenuous kind and prides itself for having its own yoga poses. The yoga positions are assumed in a flow, performed one after the other and demands great dedication from the practitioner. This yoga is the forerunner of power yoga. The difference between the two is that the yoga poses of power yoga do not follow a stringent set of yoga positions unlike ashtanga yoga.

Bikram Yoga focuses on strength, endurance and flexibility of the cardiovascular system as its main ingredients of fitness. Hot yoga is the popular name used while referring to Bikram yoga due to the practitioner”s habit of exercising in a room heated to 105 degrees Fahrenheit. It was created by Bikram Choudhury who promoted sweating as a means to make the muscles loose thereby preventing damage to the tissues during workouts. Sweating is also an excellent means to detoxify the body.

Iyengar Yoga focuses on how the body is aligned. Practitioners of Iyengar yoga hold the yoga poses for longer period of times unlike ashtanga yoga and are known to use devices such as blocks, straps and blankets in order to gain alignment of the body.

Integral Yoga incorporates breathing exercises, hatha yoga positions, chanting and praying in a more subtle way. Sri Swami Sachidananda is the founder of this yoga style.

Kundalini Yoga practitioners shift their poses rapidly. Chanting, meditation and breathing are three aspects of this yoga that the practitioners stipulate. According to them it creates a spiritual effect unlike hatha yoga.

Prenatal Yoga is most suited for expectant mothers and includes yoga poses that are designed specifically for them. Pregnant women at all stages of pregnancy are encouraged to practice this type of yoga. Flexibility, strengthening of the pelvic floor and core muscles are stressed in yoga positions in this style so that labor can be managed during delivery.

This list is a partial description of the various yoga styles practiced in the world. Though the styles might be different, the effects on the body are similar. Yoga positions improve stamina, flexibility and strength. Further, yoga positions improve blood circulation and pressure and kept blood sugar to optimum levels. Research is needed before you embark into a yoga session so that you can choose the best style suitable for your body type and requirements.