Editors note: Over the next four weeks, we will have a weekly series on yoga providing you with information on the benefits of yoga and provide you with practices that you can start in your home.
Yoga is a commonly used term that covers the physical practice and poses, and also has a much richer and deeper meaning beyond just the physical practice. Yoga does more than just burn calories, increase strength and flexibility. The practice of yoga has been around for more than 5,000 years, so this is not a fad that will fade away anytime soon.
Did you know that there are more than 100 different types of yoga? Some are fast paced, some are in hot studios, some are more intense, and others are restorative and relaxing. Here are just a few examples of the types of yoga practices you may find at a studio near you:
- Hatha- This is the most common form, and is associated with a series of basic movements with breathing.
- Vinyasa- Series of poses that flow smoothly into one another.
- Power- A faster, higher-intensity practice that builds muscle.
- Ashtanga- A series of poses, combined with a special breathing technique.
- Bikram- Also known as “hot yoga,” it is a series of 26 challenging poses performed in a room at a high temperature.
- Iyengar- A type of yoga that utilizes props to help you move your body into proper alignment.
The best way to learn what style you like is by going to multiple studios and trying out different classes with different teachers, and then reflecting on what class and movements feel best in your body and leave you feeling refueled and relaxed. To find studios near you, visit www.yelp.com to read different reviews, reach out to friends on Facebook or Instagram to find out their favorites, or visit www.yogafinder.com to search different yoga studios and find events near you. If it is your first time, ask the studio for a tour and overview of the yoga practices and what to expect.
Amy Green, LMSW, is a counselor and the Chief Operating Officer of Ready Nest Counseling. She specializes in trauma informed care and maternal mental health, focusing on perinatal mood disorders and grief surrounding traumatic childbirth or infant loss. Amy provides comprehensive care through a combination of mind-body modalities and is passionate about sharing practices of self-care to increase wellness in the lives of others. Amy has her Masters in Social Work and is also trained as a breath coach hosting sessions and workshops at Lakshmi Ayurveda Nashville, and is a Registered Yoga Teacher presently teaching prenatal yoga at Blooma Nashville. She has been a Guest Lecturer at the University of Tennessee Masters in Social Work program teaching on trauma informed care and child and adolescent treatment. Amy will soon be featured on New Focus Network with A Breath of Fresh Awe, a new program that features stories, practices, and movements for your soul.
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