There's No Place Like Om: Keeping Your Mind and Body Connected
If you're contemplating a little spring cleaning, start with a few cleansing breaths and an asana or two.
by Sarah Fallon
Most yoga in the United States is a variant of the 5,000-year-old Hatha style, which emphasizes the relationship between physical activity and spiritual health -- the archetypical mind-body connection. But the myriad variations do get confusing. Ashtanga. Iyengar. Vinyasa. Jivamukti. The last thing you want is to find yourself huffing through a grueling sequence of upward and downward dog when you really just want to bliss out in lotus position. Below, a few popular types of yoga; if a class is advertised as simply Hatha yoga, ask what you can expect and advise your instructor beforehand of any tweaks or twinges you may have -- especially in your back, neck, or wrists.
Ananda Gentle, inward focused, and affirming, but you'll still build strength and flexibility. A good choice if you're searching more for lightness of spirit than lightness of body.
Ashtanga Expect to sweat. A lot. Ashtanga means "eight limbs," and the four you possess will execute a specific sequence of asanas, or postures, to generate a cleansing internal heat.
Bikram It gets a lot of press for its greenhouse-like studios and militant instructors, but beginners beware: the hot, vigorous sequence can leave you more dehydrated than exhilarated. Consult a doctor first.
Iyengar Very gentle. Classes emphasize symmetry and alignment; it's more important to get everything in the correct place than to give that hamstring an extra tug. Props like blocks, straps, chairs, and blankets help you line up correctly.
PowerYoga On a lot of health-club schedules. It's an adaptation of Ashtanga yoga but requires less flexibility and endurance, making it more accessible to beginners. Still a hearty workout, though.
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