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Introduction
In this article I will explore different styles of Yoga. I have been practicing Yoga for two years now and in my opinion, it is one of the best hobbies one could have for relaxation and wellbeing. Yoga is very easily approachable and easy to start for a beginner and the learning curve is not very steep. However, Yoga offers endless possibilities to challenge yourself and improve your techniques and skills. When practicing Yoga, you are never complete and can always find sections to improve. It is truly a lifelong journey and according to Yoga philosophy it continues in the afterlife.
I have practiced Yoga in both a local studio as well as online. There are pros and cons to both ways of practising Yoga, but I find online Yoga the most enjoyable for me. Online Yoga is very accessible and easy to practice. Online lessons run pretty often, and you can easily select a time that is the most suitable for you. The downside to online lessons is that you need to have all the possible equipment required. However, it is completely possible to practice Yoga without any equipment. Also, it is easy to improvise the equipment from different standard household items. For example, Yoga mat can be replaced by a rug and Yoga brick can be replaced by a thick book such as Capital by Karl Marx.
The biggest pro for going to a local Yoga studio is that those studios often have all the needed equipment such as Yoga brick, Yoga mat and Yoga belt. Of course, you can get more in detail instructions and advise when practicing Yoga if you choose to go to a local studio and there is also the social and community aspect to it. I would recommend starting Yoga at a local studio so you can learn the proper techniques of all the movements under supervision of a more experienced practitioner. After gathering sufficient experience, you can naturally switch to online Yoga since you do not need direct guidance so much anymore. Next, I will discuss the biggest branches of Yoga.
Yin Yoga
Ying Yoga is a branch of Yoga that focuses on slow and calm movements with emphasis on the movements also known as poses being held over a longer period of time. It is recommended that Yin Yoga is practiced in the evening since it releases tension in the muscles and joints and promotes relaxation. However, Yin Yoga is not easy even though it puts emphasis on slow and calm relaxed movements. Practitioners of Yin Yoga often must endure uncomfortable feeling which stems from the poses being held over a longer period of time. This can be difficult and uncomfortable for a person who is stiff and has limited mobility to their body. Typically, the poses should be done within 70% of the person’s maximum mobility. One should be able to feel the stretch when doing the pose’s however feeling pain is a signal that the pose is exceeding the limits of one’s mobility. Generally, Yin Yoga sessions are rather long and go on for one and half an hour, which makes them not so convenient for a busy person.
Hatha Yoga
Hatha Yoga is one of the most common and well-known styles of Yoga. Many other styles of Yoga are based on Hatha such as Hot Yoga and Ashtanga Yoga. There are various interpretations of the name and one of them determines that the name comes from Ha which means the sun and Tha that means the moon. Compared to Yin Yoga Hatha is substantially more dynamic, mobile, and fast paced. Hatha puts strong emphasis on breathing and the poses are supposed to be combined with controlled breathing to reach a balance between the mind and the body. Hatha Yoga releases tension and improves the mobility of the body as well as provokes relaxation and improves focus. There are many subcategories of Hatha and usually the poses and techniques taught depend a lot on the teacher and his background with the existing subcategories. I would recommend starting Hatha at a local Yoga studio since it is very important that the movements are done correctly and when combined with correct breathing, they are slightly harder to learn on your own. Many people experience Hatha in a way that is more energizing and gives them strength and power to go about their daily lives. Hatha is often practiced during the day or in the morning as opposed to Yin Yoga.
Air Yoga
Air Yoga is one of the newest and biggest trends inside the Yoga scene. It is based on enjoyment and challenges imposed by floating. This is achieved often by using silk fabrics that hang from the ceiling. Air Yoga requires courage and certain level of physical ability to be able to do the poses correctly since it combines the traditional aspects of Yoga with acrobatic elements. The floating aspect gives all the standard poses a new life and makes them greatly different and sometimes more difficult. This style of Yoga offers the practitioners an uplifting experience both in physical and mental way. Air Yoga should absolutely be practiced or at least started at a studio since the aspect of floating can result in certain negative things such as injuries if caution and safety are not considered. Air Yoga is suitable for everybody with at least standard physical health.
Conclusion
Yoga is a healthy hobby that improves the mobility of the body as well as the well-being of the mind. There is a lot of different styles of Yoga that one can choose from based on their interests and physical limitations. There is different equipment that can be used to practice Yoga but very of then these can be replaced by everyday household items. Yoga is commonly taught both online and in studios which makes it convenient hobby for everybody. Simply put, to be able to practice vast majority of Yoga styles you only need to know how to breathe. The Yoga landscape evolves all the time and different styles of Yoga are invented on regular basis with the newest comers being Air Yoga and Hot Yoga.