Yoga is around since 5000 years now. It is the time proven practice originated from India. Practising yoga in routine helps you to relieve stress, have calmness, tone up your boy and stretch muscles.

Beside this yoga has lot of other health benefits. There are different types of yoga in existence and it may be difficult to find out which one best suit you. You have to identify it according to your body and your target like what is your motive to practice yoga.

Different Types of Yoga with their Purpose and Benefits:

Hatha Yoga:

Hatha means force. Any yoga which teaches physical postures will come under this category. Hatha yoga includes yoga positions, physical and mental detox techniques, physiological energy releasing techniques and pranayama. In hatha yoga you will practice the most basic yoga postures. It is slow paced class perfect for beginners. You won’t end up with sweat but you will learn basic postures, relaxation techniques and meditation.

[Read: The Yoga sutras of Patanjali]

Vinyasa:

It is a Sanskrit word means connection. This yoga links your movements with your breathe. You follow the series of yoga positions that smoothly transition from one pose to next. You can expect to move through poses like sun salutations, warrior poses, balancing poses, back bends, and seated stretches. There is no strict sequence of poses but it is entirely depends on the creativity of instructor. Depending on level vinyasa can be gentle or rigorous.

Ashtanga Yoga:

Ancient yoga teachings are the base of ashtanga. Pattabhi Jois is the person behind its popularity and he is the person who brought this yoga in west in 1970s. It is also called power yoga. It’s a thorough style of yoga that follows a specific sequence of postures like vinyasa yoga, and each pose is linked with the movement of your breath. The difference is that ashtanga always performs the exact same poses in the exact sequence. This is a hot, sweaty, physically demanding practice. It is good for people who wants to maintain their strength and stamina and for those who wants to get in touch with their spiritual side.

Bikram Yoga:

It is known for its sweat dripping postures. Usually done in artificial hot environment, it is a series of 26 postures that are to be performed strictly in a sequence. Sequence is however different from Vinyasa and ashtanga. This yoga targets the entire body- your veins, muscles, organs and ligaments. It helps to flush out toxins, speedy recovery from injury.

[Read: 10 Power Yoga Exercises for Fit Body]

Iyengar Yoga:

Iyengar yoga is popularized by B.K.S. Iyengar. Iyengar is a very careful style of yoga, with the focus on the proper alignment in a pose. In order to achieve proper alignment, Iyengar yoga will use variety of yoga objects like blocks, blankets, straps, chairs, bolsters, and a rope wall. There isn’t a lot of jumping around in Iyengar classes, so you won’t get your heart rate up, but you’ll be amazed to discover how physically and mentally challenging it is to stay put.

By now you must got an overview of the principles & basic practice of these different types of yoga. Select the best for you to practice. Select the yoga on the basis of your goal you want to achieve. Know your goal and get going.