A Beginner's Guide to Various Yoga Styles

Yoga, a practice that has been around for over 5,000 years, helps maintain mindfulness and improve well-being. It is not only a form of exercise but also a spiritual tradition offering numerous benefits. Join us as we explore the different types of yoga to help you find the perfect fit for your needs.

Yoga comes in many forms, from the traditional Hatha to modern innovations like goat yoga. Each style has its unique benefits, so let's dive into our guide to discover which one might be right for you.

Hatha Yoga

Hatha yoga is the classical form of yoga encompassing most physical styles. It involves a slow-paced technique that teaches a sequence of poses focusing on stretching, posture, and breathing. This helps to ease both body and mind. Practicing Hatha yoga can improve strength, balance, and physical fitness while also helping to manage stress and anxiety.

To get started you can check out videos on YouTube or join a class. Nuffield Health host sessions for Yoga across UK in their Gyms. Visit: www.nuffieldhealth.com/gyms/classes/yoga for more information. With General & Medical, members get discounts on Gym Memberships across the UK. Find out more here.

Aerial Yoga

Aerial yoga offers a fresh challenge. In these classes, traditional yoga poses are performed while suspended in a silk hammock. Aerial yoga offers numerous health benefits, particularly for those with back issues. The suspension allows the spine to lengthen and relieves tension in the spinal cord and hip joints. To see the top locations to get started with Aerial see here.

Power Yoga

Power yoga is an athletic, fitness-focused type of yoga that provides a vigorous workout through a series of rhythmic poses. This style builds strength and improves flexibility. Regular practice of power yoga can enhance your balance, posture, and cardiovascular health. Power Yoga isn’t recommended for beginners but if you’re an advanced Yogi, there are several places to you can try or search on Youtube.

Bikram Yoga

Bikram yoga, also known as hot yoga, is practiced in a studio heated to 40 degrees Celsius. Each 90-minute session includes a set sequence of 26 poses and two breathing exercises. The heat is intended to replicate the climate of India, where this yoga style originated, and it is believed to improve flexibility and blood circulation.

Goat Yoga

It may sound unusual, but goat yoga is a real thing. This fun and quirky style combines traditional yoga with animal therapy. Practicing yoga with goats can reduce stress and boost happiness by increasing serotonin and dopamine levels, the body's natural 'happy chemicals.' Although you may have to travel a bit further afield there are farms across the UK which offer classes of Goat Yoga. Mrs Dowsons Farm Park, situated in the north of England offer an amazing experience at a reasonable price for you to try out and your kids can also enjoy their day to.

Mindful Yoga

Mindful yoga merges the physical postures of yoga with the mindfulness practices of Buddhism. Rather than focusing on perfecting poses, mindful yoga emphasizes awareness of your body movements and mind. This integration of exercise and meditation is highly effective in reducing stress.

Restorative Yoga

Restorative yoga is designed to slow down and focus on deep breathing and stretching. In these classes, you’ll perform 4-5 poses, using props like blankets, blocks, and bolsters to support your body. These props allow you to hold poses longer, promoting complete muscle relaxation and rest. The calming environment, often with dimmed lights and soft music, helps restore both muscles and brain function.

By exploring these various styles, you can find the type of yoga that best suits your preferences and needs. Whether you're seeking physical fitness, mental clarity, or a unique experience with animal companions, there's all sorts of yoga practices out there. Star your journey of yoga and discover the benefits it can bring to your life.