When making a choice in any situation, it is important to always be informed of other alternatives for many reasons. Hatha Yoga is undoubtedly one of the most popular yoga styles but neither is it the only, nor the best. Depending on your aims and aspiration for doing yoga, all yoga styles have their unique application superiority and effects. Below is a brief explanation of what Hatha Yoga and seven other yoga style means.
Hatha Yoga;
The Hatha Yoga is a common label for any style of yoga that focuses on physical posture. Hatha Yoga is by far the most popular yoga style in Europe and the West in general. The classes are often gentle introduction to basic and popular yoga postures that helps the body system function better with moderately increased heart-rate and muscle stretches to help maintain or improve posture.
ANUSARA: Although popular, the Anusara Yoga is relatively new to the world of yoga, as it was developed by an American yogi in 1997, John Friend. This yoga style is developed on the concept that human are filled with intrinsic goodness which Anusara yoga can help its students tap into by opening their hearts, grace and experience and allowing their inner goodness come through. Teachers specifically sequence its classes with rigorous body and mind challenges aimed at exploring on of its founder’s universal principle of alignment.
ASHTANGA: This yoga style is based around ancient yoga teachings and only became popular in the west when it was introduced by Pattabhi Jois in the 1970’s. Its style is similar to that of Vinyasa yoga where all the movement performed is linked to the breath, the style has a specific postural sequence to be followed.
BIKRAM: this school of yoga was developed by Bikram Choudhury about 30 years ago, in which classes are conducted in artificially heated rooms. There are 26 series of poses that will surely make you lose a lot of body fluid even under normal circumstance. Similar to Ashtanga, the Bikram class has a sequential move pattern, even though different from Ashtanga yoga. The Bikram yoga is trademarked by Choudhury who makes it mandatory for the 26 pose sequence to be obeyed.
HOT YOGA: Relatively the same as Bikram. The only real notable difference between hot yoga and Bikram yoga is just a slight deviation from the Bikram sequence and its name. This also makes you sweat a whole lot.
IYENGAR; This meticulous yoga style was popularized and basically developed by B.K.S Iyengar. Rapt attention is paid to getting the perfect alignment in every pose. In a bid to assist each student , a typical Iyengar studio is always stocked with various yoga props like straps, chairs, mats, bolsters, block and the likes. Iyengar requires less jumping around as compared to most other Yoga styles, which makes it ideal for people with fragile heart rate and other body (health) limitation issues. It actually aims at exploring the physical and mental ability to stay put and focus.
RESTORATIVE: This yoga style is a great way to soothe and relax frayed nerves. Yoga props like blankets, bolsters and blocks in conducting their passive poses aimed at helping the body experience the benefits of the possess without actually exerting too much effort. The aim of this style is to relax the nerves, which is why most restorative studios are open on Friday Nights.
VINYASA: the actual word refers to a Sanskrit word for the phrase that roughly means “to put in a special way”, which refers in Hatha Yoga to sequential pose. Vinyasa yoga classes a are always movement-intensive and fluid. Vinyasa teachers often use music to make thing smooth and rhythmic as the slowly transition from pose to pose with an intensity similar to that of the Ashtanga yoga. The unique thing about this style of Yoga is that no two classes are the same and the classes are physical daring.
Undoubtedly, Hatha Yoga is one of the most efficient form of Yoga as it affects the body and soul in a balanced way. Hatha Yoga is also quite moderate in its physical and emotional demands which makes it popular and ideal for everyone who values complete well-being.
