Yoga schools and their characteristics

As yoga has become popular, more and more people have chosen this fitness sport. However, the suitable yoga method varies according to each person's age, body shape and physique. We have all heard of yoga, but we don’t know that there are actually many schools of yoga, and each type of yoga has its own characteristics. For example, hot yoga is not suitable for elderly people with high blood pressure, etc. The details are as follows.

1. According to the different practice methods and class characteristics, the current mainstream yoga schools are probably: Iyengar Yoga, Yin Yoga, Bikram Yoga (hot yoga), Flow Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, etc. These yoga schools are widely recognized and practiced yoga schools. I will temporarily call them orthodox yoga schools. Nowadays, gyms and yoga studios are trying to make the functions on their class schedules more intuitive in order to attract customers.

2. Some yoga courses are classified according to their functions. Yoga classified by function includes: prenatal yoga (usually in the form of private training), office yoga, therapeutic yoga, slimming yoga, etc. There are also some other types of yoga that are derived from traditional Hatha yoga by combining other elements, including: Tai Chi yoga, hypnosis yoga, dance yoga, aerial yoga, flying yoga, etc.

3. Iyengar Yoga is a very well-known style of Hatha Yoga, founded by BKS Iyengar. Its characteristics are the precise requirements for postures and the need to use various auxiliary tools. The precision and correct posture required by Iyengar Yoga are now also used by some other schools. The auxiliary tools generally used include yoga ropes, stretch belts, yoga bricks, yoga chairs, etc.

4. Yin Yoga was created by founder Paulie Zink by combining Indian yoga, traditional Chinese medicine and anatomy. When practicing Yin Yoga, emphasis is placed on relaxing the entire body, clearing all distracting thoughts as much as possible, and combining this with slow breathing. Maintain one movement for 3-5 minutes, or even 10 minutes. Each posture should be retracted a little bit after reaching the limit. The muscles should be in a completely relaxed state, so as to exercise the bones and fascia, regulate the nervous system, and stimulate the meridians in order to achieve the effect of calming the mind and regulating yin and yang.

5. Hot yoga was also created on the basis of Hatha yoga. Its founders are Indian yoga master Bikram and his wife. The so-called hot yoga is to do yoga in a high temperature environment of 38℃-40℃. It consists of a set of 26 fixed movements, and generally, these 26 movements cannot be modified.