Find your yoga personality
There's a good reason for the popularity
of yoga: it's a great all-purpose exercise suited to so many people, in all
its different forms. It's also easy to add a bit of yoga into your daily routine.
Choosing the type of yoga —
and the teacher — that's right for you can enhance your enjoyment of its
practice.
Here are some of the most popular
styles you're likely to find offered at a class or on DVD:
Hatha. This term
is usually used to describe a practice that focuses on positions and breathing.
Transitions between each posture (asana) are slower than in many other
styles, and each instructor will draw from a huge repertoire of poses to suit
specific goals each session.
Who this may suit: Beginners
getting to know the poses and people at any fitness level who want a good stretch.
Iyengar. A style of Hatha yoga that emphasizes the precise
alignment of the poses. It may use props, such as wooden blocks, belts or blankets,
to help achieve perfection in the asana.
Who this may suit: People
who enjoy mastering technique and anyone who wants to focus on accurate body
position in the asanas.
Ashtanga. A fast, dynamic style that emphasizes strength, agility
and concentration. It focuses on breathing as you move through a fast-moving
sequence of poses.
Who this may suit: Anyone
who enjoys fast-paced exercise and sports.
Bikram. Performed in a room heated to around 40°C, this
style focuses on stretching and balance, holding and releasing poses to detoxify
and build strength.
Who this may suit: Someone
who's in good health, enjoys the heat and isn't afraid to sweat.
Make it part of your day
There's a lot of crossover, so a class or DVD may be called one style but incorporate
elements of others. Try a few classes and see what feels right for you. And
don't forget, it's always a good idea to consult your doctor if you're beginning
any new exercise regimen.
The important thing is to get started
and have fun. You could start feeling the benefits by adding just fifteen minutes
of yoga to each day.
The health benefits of yoga
- Helps maintain flexibility and increase your range of motion.
- A form of resistance exercise, helping to build muscle strength and bone density.
- A great stress reliever, thanks to breathing techniques which may even help lower blood pressure.
- You can do it nearly anywhere: All you need is comfortable clothing, and an inexpensive "sticky mat" so your feet don't slide on the floor.