What do Lady Gaga, Gisele Bundchen, Madonna , Reese Witherspoon and Gwyneth Paltrow all have in common? Yoga, of course!
Â
With so many different styles of yoga being taught and practiced today, choosing a yoga class to go to can be overwhelming. Not to worry! Here’s a quick guide to the most popular types of yoga that can help you decode that gym schedule and figure out which class is right for you.
Â
Hatha– most Hatha classes are slow-paced and feature gentle yoga that will provide a good introduction to the basic yoga poses
Â
Vinyasa– Vinyasa tends to be a more vigorous style of yoga. It is based on a series of poses called Sun Salutations in which movement is matched to breath. These classes usually end with intense stretching
Â
Ashtanga/Power Yoga– not for the fainthearted! Ashtanga is the inspiration for what is often called Power Yoga. Ashtanga practice is definitely a workout as it is the constant movement from one pose to the next. As opposed to Ashtanga, which consists of eight poses always performed in the same order, Power Yoga does not necessarily keep to this strict series of poses
Â
Bikram/ Hot Yoga– practiced in a 95 to 100 degree room, Bikram yoga is a cleansing style of yoga that allows for loosening of tight muscles and A LOT of sweating—be warned! The Bikram method is a set series of 26 poses but other Hot Yoga classes may not use this series. Trust me, hot yoga defies all stereotypes that yoga is an easy workout!
Not only does yoga get you in great shape by improving strength and flexibility while burning calories, but it also has numerous health benefits. Plus, it will make your skin glow and give you a sense of Zen-like calm that will leave you ready to take on anything!
Â
So why not work out like a celeb? Go grab that yoga mat!