Yoga is a mind and body practice. Various styles of yoga combine physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation or relaxation. It involves movement, meditation, and breathing techniques to promote mental and physical well-being. There are several types of yoga and many disciplines within the practice.

Tirumalai Krishnamacharya (18 November 1888 – 28 February 1989) was an Indian yoga teacher, ayurvedic healer and scholar. Often referred to as “the father of modern yoga,” Krishnamacharya is widely regarded as one of the most influential yoga teachers of the 20th century.

Yoga is essentially a spiritual discipline based on an extremely subtle science, which focuses on bringing harmony between mind and body. It is an art and scince of healthy living. The word ‘Yoga’ is derived from the Sanskrit root ‘Yuj’, meaning ‘to join’ or ‘to yoke’ or ‘to unite’.

The very best time to practice yoga is first thing in the morning before breakfast. Upon waking, empty the bowels, shower if you wish, then commence the day with your regime of yoga practices. The second most conductive time is early evening, around sunset.

Ashtanga (or Astanga) Yoga: This style of yoga is physically demanding as it involves synchronising breathing with progressive and continuous series of postures-a process producing intense internal heat and a profuse, purifying sweat that detoxifies muscles and organs.

Kundalini yoga is more spiritual and philosophical in approach than other styles of yoga. Kundalini yoga classes include meditation, breathing techniques, and chanting as well as yoga postures.

The ancient form of Yoga is known as the Vedic Yoga, which dates back to the Rig Veda, the oldest written Sanskrit work in the world. It was probably written some 10,000 years ago, during the Golden Age or the Satya Yuga.

Iyengar is seen as a pure form of yoga and offers a wealth of knowledge about the structure of both the body and the yoga pose. It is great for those wanting to have an intimate awareness of each posture, or for those re-entering their practice after an injury.

Vinyasa Yoga: It originally stems from Ashtanga yoga and is perhaps the most athletic yoga style you will find in your local yoga studio. Vinyasa yoga classes will often move through a “vinyasa flow”, matching the postures with the breath as you flow through from one posture to the next.

The beginnings of Yoga were developed by the Indus-Sarasvati civilisation in Northern India over 5,000 years ago. The word yoga was first mentioned in the oldest sacred texts, the Rig Veda. The Vedas were a collection of texts containing songs, mantras and rituals to be used by Brahmans, the Vedic priests.

Rishikesh is also the self-styled “yoga capital of the world,” considered to be the birthplace of this widely popular practice that’s said to benefit both mind and body.

Yoga (or Yoga Psychology) offers practices to enhance mental health and alleviate the symptoms of psychological ill-ease or mental illness, using mind-body-lifestyle interventions to cultivate a healthy, productive, flourishing life.

If your goal is weight loss, choosing one of the vigorous, flowing styles of yoga, such as Ashtanga, Vinyasa or Power Yoga, is the smart choice. These classes traditionally last 90 minutes, and can most definitely have a cardiovascular benefit.

“You will become stronger and physically fit because you use your body weight to strengthen all your major muscle groups,” she explained to The List. “It takes great strength to build up to certain poses that require coordination, poise, and power.”

Restorative is a gentle, relaxing, passive style that allows students to relax and release the body into a gentle stretch that is held for as long as 10 minutes. This style makes use of a wide range of props, including bolsters, blocks, straps and blankets.