Yoga Practices You May Not Have Heard Of

                                 (Photo credit: Yogajournal.com)

Now that I have been practicing yoga every day and really reaping the benefits of it, I started coming across several types of practices I had never heard of. Currently what is working for me is Hatha yoga and vinyasa. However, I'm open to learning about new types of yoga that can improve my strength and relax my mind. With so many different styles of yoga, it can be overwhelming. With any exercise, you should choose what's right for you and what you enjoy. Below are several types of yoga beyond the mainstream to help you decide if you're in the mood for strength or if you're needing a more restorative type of practice.

Yin Yoga

Yin yoga has origins in both yoga and martial arts. Its style is slow, with poses held from one minute to five minutes long. The act of holding the poses for long periods of time benefits the mind by staying still. It's an excellent practice to help increase blood flow in the joints while improving your flexibility. While doing yin yoga, you will really feel it in the lower back, thighs, and hips. Yin yoga encourages the use of blocks and blankets to help you relax. 

Sivananda

Sivananda is similar to Hatha yoga. You perform 13 poses starting with savasana, breathing exercises, sun salutations, and ending with 12 asanas. Sivananda is great for beginners and adaptable to those with different physical abilities. This gentle practice is ideal for individuals who are looking for overall wellness, and the elevated status of mindfulness. 

Viniyoga

Viniyoga is an ideal practice for beginners because you don't have to worry about doing each pose accurately. This form of yoga focuses on your breathing and how it moves through your body. A viniyoga session usually includes chanting, pranayama, meditation, and asana. The focus is on alignment and is an excellent form of therapy for those recovering from injury.

Kripalu

Almost all styles of yoga center around meditation and breathing. However, kripalu yoga believes that the mind, body, and spirit are equally important. Don't expect to break a sweat, but do expect a deeper mind-body awareness. Kripalu yoga will help you love yourself the way you are and become less judgmental. Beginners will hold their poses for short periods of time. As you progress, the hold times are longer and you will eventually flow. 

Anusara

Anusara is like Hatha yoga, but with a modern twist. Anusara means "going with the flow," "following your heart," and "flowing with grace." Practicing this style of yoga regularly will help you become more flexible, and stronger. Most people feel happier, less stressed, and renewed after an anusara yoga practice. You can expect a lot of alignment work and the use of props if needed. Anusara is great for those who want a heightened sense of spiritual, and physical well-being.

Iyengar

Similar to Anusara, Iyengar also uses props to help correct alignment, especially for beginners. It's slow-paced and less intense than other types of yoga. Iyengar is suitable for people of all ages. It focuses on three aspects; alignment, sequencing, and timing. Devoted Iyengar practices claim improvements in posture, energy, clarity, and physical and psychological health.

Kundalini

Kundalini means "life force energy." Kundalini yoga encourages the reduction of negative thinking and stress through meditation, singing, and chanting. The goal is to achieve physical vitality and increase awareness. A typical kundalini yoga class consists of breathing exercises that can be challenging coupled with meditation and asanas. It's typically repetitive and stretched over a long period of time.