9 types of yoga for a healthy life

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Being healthy is important. Performing yoga can help you lead a healthy life. But there are many types of yoga to perform. People don’t understand which one is suitable for him/her because the benefits of yoga are different for different yoga styles. Don’t worry in this article you are going to learn 9 types of yoga and their specific benefits.

What is Yoga

Yoga is an exercise that is performed by freehand (sometimes with a little bit of equipment) for being healthy and leading a healthy life. Though ancient yoga started in India as a spiritual practice, it has become a very popular exercise for relieving stress and getting many health benefits. In modern days there are several types of yoga such as ashtanga, Iyengar, kripalu, kundalini, yoga nidra, sivananda, viniyoga, prenatal, and restorative yoga.

Types of Yoga- 9 types 

There are different types of yoga and each of them is beneficial. In this article, we only give a short description of the types.

Ashtanga Yoga Style

The traditional form of yoga is called Ashtanga yoga, which combines vigorous exercise and breathing techniques to achieve the goal of meditation.

Benefits of Ashtanga Yoga

• Improve physical strength and flexibility
• Improve focus and concentration
• Enhance Stamina
• Reduce stress

Iyengar Yoga Style

Iyengar yoga is named after the Indian teacher B.K.S Iyengar. It is a yoga exercise that focuses on the structural alignment of the body. It has an emphasis on precision and alignment in the performance of yoga postures called asanas.

Benefits of Iyengar Yoga

• Improve posture
• Pain relief
• Better breathing
• Tone muscle

Kripalu Yoga Style

Kripalu yoga comes from the ancient hatha yoga style. It combines a sequence of physical posture with breathing and relaxation.

Benefits of Kripalu Yoga

• Cardiovascular health improves
• Reduce stress
• Mind-body unity
• Help to be emotionally strong

Learn More: Why do Kripalu Yoga

Kundalini Yoga Style

Kundalini yoga is more like a spiritual practice than an exercise. But in modern days people do it as an exercise for its various health benefits.

Kundalini word comes from the Sanskrit word “Kundal” which means circular. Yogi Bhajan, a yoga teacher from India introduce kundalini yoga to Western countries in the 1960s.

Benefits of Kundalini Yoga

• Improve self-confidence
• Enlows stress
• Spiritual enlightenment
• Improves cognitive function

Yoga Nidra or Sleep Yoga Style

Yoga nidra also know as “Yogic Sleep” or “effortless yoga” is a meditation yoga pose. It is very easy to perform and anyone even a child can do it.

Benefits of Yoga Nidra

There are several benefits of yoga nidra such as

• Getting the ZZZS you need 
• Reducing anxiety and stress levels
• Releasing tension and pain reduction
• Controlling blood sugar or type 2 diabetics

Sivananda Yoga Style

Sivananda, a yoga that includes specific sequences of classical yoga posture, relaxation techniques, and breathing exercises.

Benefits of Sivananda Yoga 

Sivananda yoga has many benefits. Some of the benefits of Sivananda yoga are

• Gives comfort to the muscles and the joints
• Balance nervous system
• Support cardiovascular system
• Reduce stress
• Improve flexibility

Viniyoga Style

Viniyoga, in Sanskrit “appropriate application” is a yoga that includes a comprehensive and authentic transmission from asanas, pranayama, banda, meditation, sound, and chanting.

Benefits of Viniyoga

There are many benefits of viniyoga. Some of them are

• Increase mindfulness
• Enhance concentration and focus
• Improve body awareness
• Boosts energy 

Prenatal Yoga Style

Prenatal yoga or yoga in pregnancy, a modified yoga for pregnancy can help you stay in good shape. It helps to stay active, pain relief and reduces many risks.

Benefits of Prenatal Yoga

• Boosts mental health
• Prepare the body for delivery
• Reduce pregnancy problem
• Give daily working energy

Restorative Yoga Style

Restorative yoga is performed for a long period with the help of props to support you. It gives us physical, mental, and emotional relaxation.

Benefits of Restorative Yoga

The benefits of restorative yoga are

• Relax the body deeply
• Enhance mood
• Refresh mind
• Balance the nervous and immune system
• Improve balancing system

Conclusion

Ashtanga yoga, Kripalu yoga, Kundalini yoga, Yoga Nidra, Sivananda yoga, Viniyoga, Prenatal yoga, and Restorative yoga are all the 9 types of yoga that are described in this article. All these yogas give us many benefits such as physical strength, reduce stress, back pain relief, reduce pregnancy problems, improve mental health, and so on.