Five yoga styles to try
Yoga has been around for 5000 years and during its long existence it has experienced numerous evolutions and reincarnations. As yoga spread across the world, new schools have flourished, offering differing styles and forms.
The following are a select five out of the varied styles of yoga offered today. Many of the styles maintain the belief in the union of the mind, body and spirit, practise essential Hatha yoga core postures, and will often incorporate relaxation, meditation and breathing exercises. However, they also differ in subtle ways. The yoga style you decide upon will be a personal choice, but here is a brief overview five popular forms available.
Ashtanga Vinyasa
Ashtanga yoga was developed by K. Pattabhi Jois and consists of a series of asanas or poses in a flowing Vinyasa style. Postures flow from one pose to the next to build strength and flexibility and as a result, Ashtanga can be a physically demanding form of yoga. There is also a strong emphasis on integrating the breath when moving between asanas.
Iyengar
Developed by B.K.S Iyengar, this style is one of the most popular forms of yoga in the world. The Iyengar style of yoga places a strong emphasis on the alignment of postures and also incorporates the use of props such as blocks and belts into practice. It draws heavily upon Patanjali’s eight limbs of yoga and focuses on improving strength, flexibility, balance as well as concentration and meditation.
Viniyoga
Viniyoga was developed by T.K.V. Desikachar, the son of influential teacher, Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya. Viniyoga is more a technique of developing personal practice through asana, pranayama or breathing exercises, meditation, ritual and prayer. Viniyoga is also an adaptable form of yoga that can be modified to suit the abilities of the student.
Dru yoga
Dru yoga uses techniques to bring balance to aspects of the individual such as the mind and emotions. Dru yoga aims to consciously engage all the layers of being and cultivate awareness in order to balance the emotions and create stillness. Dru yoga also specifically works with opening the heart and lifting the sternum.
Bikram or Hot yoga
Bikram is a relatively new form of yoga, started by Bikram Choudhury in the early 1970s. In recent years, Bikram yoga has experienced a surge in popularity, especially in Australian and America. This style involves a series 26 hatha postures performed twice. The significant difference of Bikram yoga is that is it practised in a heated room of approximated 37 degrees Celsius.
Choosing a yoga style
There are a range of other yoga styles that are more modern in flavour as well as those that maintain the more traditional aspects such as the teaching of the eight limbs. Regardless, whether you’re after some relaxation, stress relief, an energy booster or assistance with back pain and weight loss, there is a school of yoga or, to be more specific, an asana that can help you reach your personal needs and goals.
