4 COMMON TYPES OF YOGA There are many di erent types of yoga. One size does not fit all! From power to restorative, yoga provides many ways to build strength, flexibility and get cardiovascular exercise. To find the right class for you, try di erent yoga styles and teachers until you find a class that makes you want to return. There are enough types of yoga to provide you with all the tools needed for balanced physical fitness. Here are four of the most common types of yoga explained:

Vinyasa Yoga ...... Hatha Yoga 1 2 ...... Vinyasa yoga can also be referred to as flow yoga, or power flow. Hatha generally refers to any type of yoga involving physical Vinyasa classes are fluid and vigorous with a focus on linking postures. Think of hatha as the “mother” of all yoga. A hatha class is breath to movements. They usually contain numerous sun generally a basic and gentle introduction to yoga postures, with an salutations. During this lively, usually sweaty class, poses build on emphasis on alignment. one another to create a flow of postures, while music is played as an accompaniment. Vinyasa classes can be heated, and in this case, are called “hot vinyasa”.

Benefits: cardiovascular exercise, long, lean muscles, flexibility, Benefits: building muscle tone, increasing balance, deepening breath, core strengthening, shoulder toning, testing physical limits, improved posture, calming the mind, increasing blood flow and learning and greater breath awareness. correct yoga alignment.

Complementary Exercise: strengthen the area between your shoulder Complementary Exercise: try adding high intensity training to your routine. blades with weighted rows to combat all the pectoralis strengthening Explosive muscle movements, like frog jumps, can counter the slow from the sun salutations. and steady hatha postures.

Bikram Yoga Restorative Yoga 3 ...... 4 ...... Bikram yoga, created by Bikram Choudhury, consists of the Restorative yoga is a soothing practice involving props like bolsters same 26 poses performed in a hot, humid room over 100 and blankets and long held, easy postures. It’s a perfect way to degrees. No music is played, and attention is on breath. Some unwind, destress, and nourish the body. Restorative yoga and yin locations will choose to call their class hot 26 or bikram inspired yoga are very similar, so don’t get confused. Restorative yoga aims to to allow for slight deviance from the 26 poses. relax, restore and heal, while yin yoga aims to lengthen connective tissues and enhance physical performance.

Benefits: detoxing, increase of flexibility due to the heat, Benefits: flexibility, injury prevention, lengthening of connective increased focus, combating arthritis, increasing circulation tissues like ligaments and tendons, healing and restoration. and lowered blood pressure.

Complementary Exercise: add weight bearing exercises like plank, Complementary Exercise: balance this slow, relaxing practice, or weighted squats to your workout. incorporate core strengthening exercises into your routine.