Learning the Popular Styles of Yoga

There are many styles of yoga, but teachers shouldaspects. Some people, who try Hatha classes, do not
be familiar with the nine main forms of yoga, from India,like the slow-pace and are searching for a
and their relationships to contemporary styles. The ninehigher-intensity exercise.
main styles are: Bhakti, Hatha, Jnana, Karma, Kundalini,Vinyasa yoga, sometimes called Flow or Power yoga,
Mantra, Raja, Tantric, and Yantra Yoga. Bhakti yoga iscontains a completely different focus, in comparison to
widely practiced in India, yet barely known by thethe meditative Hatha. Vinyasa is called, Flow or Power,
masses outside of India.because of its emphasis on smooth and powerful
If you're looking to become a yoga instructor, you mustmovements. The teacher will guide students through a
be thoroughly trained and ready to cater to a varietyseries of poses, changing them in rhythm with the
of student needs. A competent yoga instructor shouldbreath.
be well-versed in many aspects of yoga. DifferentThe poses run together like a dance. Vinyasa classes
styles emphasize varying aspects of yoga. Some maycan be either, high or low intensity, depending upon the
focus on the coordination of breath and movement,yoga instructor's emphasis. Vinyasa can be very
while others focus on the proper alignment of thediverse because it allows the yoga instructor to
body. Others use atmospheric conditions as the basisinterject their personality into the routines.
of the style.Vinyasa, Flow, or Power yoga, draws sequences from
Globally, one of the most popular styles is Hatha yoga.Hatha or Raja yoga, depending upon the instructor's
This is a style that focuses on slow, meditativelineage. Raja is the form of yoga, which Maharishi
breathing and relaxed postures. A yoga instructor willPantanjali describes in the Yoga Sutras. It should be
slowly guide students through poses one at a time.noted that Raja is sometimes called, Ashtanga, which
Many people, who attend Hatha classes, appreciatemeans "eight limbs.
the relaxed feeling they get from the exercise