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With yoga, including iyengar and ashtanga, becoming increasingly popular, the yogic practices has evolved significantly over the years.

Nowadays, there are many different yoga variations practitioners can pick from including ashtanga, iyengar, and various asanas.

Each of these yogic practices come with enticing benefits that are hard to miss.

Other variations might be of interest to you depending on what goals you are looking to achieve.

Below are some of the main types of yoga alongside the benefits they offer, including asanas, yogic exercises, and meditation.

Hatha

Considered one of the older forms of yogic practice, Hatha yoga dates back to thousands of years. There are many modern yoga poses that can be learned, from beginners to advanced practitioners.

The easy Hatha yoga asanas have been designed to increase flexibility, stretch hips, and build strength.

The yoga practices are also low impact and is deemed suitable for anyone regardless of age, given they start slowly and avoid doing too much too soon.

Vinyasa

This type of yoga, also known as hatha yoga, is a form of meditation.

It involves Hatha yoga poses and meditation, designs it in a sequence that will keep the workout interesting, and burn more calories.

The flow is also designed to improve flexibility and stamina, making it the ideal option for those who are looking to lose weight.

It has also been known to help improve both focus and concentration.

Kundalini

Kundalini yoga was first introduced in Hinduism more than 1,200 years ago.

It was designed as an effective way to harness energy and use the energy to balance the body and heal it.

The word yoga means union, the union of spirit, mind, and body.

The word Kundalini pertains to the energy believed to be coiled at the base of the spine, used in yoga sutras and upanishads to transform and heal.

Bikram

Invented approximately 40 years ago, Bikram is named after its founder.

It makes use of 2 breathing patterns and 26 Hatha yoga poses, performed in the same sequence each session.

Other distinctions that set this yoga variation apart is the fact that it is done in a hot studio with a temperature of 80 to 110 degrees.

The idea is the more calories are burned, the faster weight loss will occur.

Bikram yoga is also considered a vigorous workout, with practitioners burning as much as 1, 300 per session.

However, hot yoga might cause dehydration and is therefore not ideal for old people and those with heart conditions and other health issues.

Ashtanga

Ashtanga is a modern yoga variation which has been introduced 60 years ago and can be loosely translated as ‘8 limbs.’

Limbs like the legs support an individual when standing.

The eight limbs refer to the 8 supports that are deemed foundations of any good yoga practice like meditation, breathing, poses, practices.

If you are physically fit and wants a good workout, this is a yoga variation you can look into.

To learn more about yoga and other essentials of the practice, visit www.allure-yoga.com right away!

If you are a lover of yoga, chances are you have been doing yogic practices for as long as you can possibly remember.

You probably have also tried ashtanga and iyengar yoga styles, added new yoga asanas, and routines every now and then.

However, are you prepared to make changes to your routine when you get pregnant?

The good thing is you don’t have to stop doing yoga even if you are on the family way but you need to make certain modifications to your yogic practice.

Below are some modifications you can make to help warrant your safety and that of your unborn baby during yoga exercises, asanas, plank pose, and mountain pose.

Use blocks

Aside from doing modifications to some yoga poses and exercises, consider using accessories to help you out.

One accessory you can definitely put to good use would be the yoga block.

The blocks can be used to brace the back, arms, shoulders, and to offer some relief for neck and back pressure.

One of the most important things you can observe while pregnant and doing yoga would be to ensure your body is braced and given proper and adequate support and yoga blocks can surely help.

Refrain from doing front-facing or downward poses

One of the primary changes you can make when pregnant and doing yoga would be to look for a more suitable yoga routine.

You need to ensure that you avoid doing downward facing positions like the downward facing dog during yoga practices.

You also need to refrain from doing front-facing positions or other poses that entail lying on your belly.

While this may seem like a given, it may not be as obvious to others.

Others might not think they will not fall or hurt their unborn baby, however, accidents do happen so it would be best to be cautious.

As an added safety measure, many prenatal yoga instructors require limiting the amount of time expectant mothers do difficult poses so as to prevent falling and other untoward injuries.

Using straps to stretch

One accessory that can help you modify certain yoga poses more easily would be the yoga strap.

In some cases, however, you’d only feel the stretch has gone too far after it happened so it would be best to stay on the safe side.

Rather than stretching your legs and arms on your own, consider utilizing yoga straps to help perform bends, stretches, and poses.

The modification can also be used in yoga poses that will require leg and arm stretches.

If you will find doing yoga modifications, poses, and changes a little too challenging, it would be best to check with a yoga instructor that is certified in prenatal yoga.

For other yoga basics and essentials, visit www.allure-yoga.com right now!

Many people who start a yoga practice often have tension release or weight loss goals in mind.

Once you achieve said goals, you probably don’t expect to stick with the yogic practices anymore.

However, yoga, including iyengar, asanas, and meditation, can do more than just achieve those goals you have in mind.

Apart from effectively helping you with weight loss and tension release, yoga can also help dramatically enhance your flexibility through stretch exercises.

If this is one goal you have in mind, the following steps would prove beneficial.

Incorporate more arches and bends

One of the most effective ways to use yoga to enhance flexibility would be to incorporate more poses that entail bends and arches, such as backbend asanas.

For instance, the downward facing dog is one of yoga poses you can start with.

Begin with the body in bent position, making a reversed V shape using your body.

The V or the point of the triangle is the rear.

The arms and the legs are also stretched.

This yoga pose enhances flexibility overtime by increasing the stretch by moving the hands and the feet closer.

This technique can be applied to other poses and asanas as well.

Stay away from the wall

Some yoga poses will entail using the wall as a backup or wall sit.

However, the problem with this technique is you won’t be able to fully work your back or leg muscles.

This would mean you won’t be getting the help with flexibility that you are looking for.

And since the wall would work as a backup, you will be resting against it as opposed to using your muscles fully.

Consider moving away from the wall and utilizing your own body and muscles to hold a position.

You will not only notice getting more flexible, you will also be working your core muscles in the process.

Make use of straps and bricks

When working out on your flexibility using yoga, there will be instances when you will get discouraged.

This is especially true in instances where you realize you can’t keep the arms or legs as stretched as you would have wanted.

Rather than getting discouraged, work on your flexibility by using straps and bricks instead.

You can start at a certain length when you use the strap and shorten the length as you get more flexible.

Overtime, you will find you won’t eventually have a need for the strap anymore.

When you use bricks in yoga poses, start with them in the highest position and slowly remove them once you are able to achieve the full extent of the move.

Once you start using the following yoga sutras, poses, and practices to enhance your flexibility, you will begin to see improvements.

Remember to also be patient when working on your flexibility as it will take time practicing yoga poses.

If you need more information on yoga and the things it can do for you, visit www.allure-yoga.com today!

When you are a yoga newbie, you can expect a lot of the asanas to be challenging to execute, at least at first.

You’ll probably find yourself not flexible enough to do some of them yet.

You can expect the same issues and problems when you switch yoga styles.

If this is something you are experiencing at the moment, you’d be delighted to know there are easy Hatha yoga asanas you can do and add to your daily practice.

Standing Forward Bend

This yogic pose is deemed one of the easiest beginner Hatha yoga asanas one can do.

Execute the physical pose by standing with both feet flat on the ground.

Take a deep breath and exhale slowly as you bend in a yoga pose.

Take your hands and place the fingertips on the floor as closely as possible.

The face should touch the legs.

You then bend over and put your face as flat on your knees as you are able.

Corpse Pose

The corpse pose is executed while one your back.

For the uninitiated, this might not even look like a yoga pose at first glance.

Lie on your back with the palm up and at an angle to the sides.

The feet should be a shoulder width apart and the soles of the feet should be facing out.

Breathe in and out slowly as you lay in this position.

This pose is designed to help you recognize parts of your body that are under stress and work on releasing that tension.

While this may seem like a very easy pose, it can be uncomfortable for those who are not used to it yet.

Fortunately, if you are still trying to get the hang of hatha practices, you can use a yoga accessory or rolled up towel to help with neck support.

Tree Pose

Next to the downward facing dog, the tree pose is considered one of the most common yoga poses.

Execute the move by standing with the feet flat on the floor.

Bring the hands to a praying position, right at the center of the chest.

Bring one of the legs up with the foot flat against the standing knee.

Wall Bend

The wall bend is performed while lying on the back.

The legs should be placed against the wall, akin to sitting on the wall.

This pose is ideal for those who have leg pain and want to build flexibility through yoga poses.

Release stress and work out the muscles by laying with the legs flat against the wall.

There are still a lot of yoga poses beginners can try, however, it is advisable to start with the easy ones until body strength and flexibility has been improved.

If you are unsure if you are executing the poses right, it is recommended that you attend a yoga class first before attempting to do the poses on your own.

For more yoga poses, practices, and other yoga essentials you need to know, visit www.allure-yoga.com right away!