The style that’s seems to be most popular among the younger generation is Acro Yoga. These are the people that do yoga poses, on top of another person doing yoga. It’s very interesting to watch and takes extreme core strength and concentration to do.
Yoga improves your flexibility: Improved flexibility is one of the first and most obvious benefits of yoga. During your first class, you probably won’t be able to touch your toes, never mind do a backbend. But if you stick with it, you’ll notice a gradual loosening, and eventually, seemingly impossible poses will become possible. You’ll also probably notice that aches and pains start to disappear. That’s no coincidence. Tight hips can strain the knee joint due to improper alignment of the thigh and shinbones. Tight hamstrings can lead to a flattening of the lumbar spine, which can cause back pain. And inflexibility in muscles and connective tissue, such as fascia and ligaments, can cause poor posture.
Yoga perfects your posture: Your head is like a bowling ball—big, round, and heavy. When it’s balanced directly over an erect spine, it takes much less work for your neck and back muscles to support it. Move it several inches forward, however, and you start to strain those muscles. Hold up that forward-leaning bowling ball for eight or 12 hours a day and it’s no wonder you’re tired. And fatigue might not be your only problem. Poor posture can cause back, neck, and other muscle and joint problems. As you slump, your body may compensate by flattening the normal inward curves in your neck and lower back. This can cause pain and degenerative arthritis of the spine.
Yoga increases muscle strength: Strong muscles do more than look good. They also protect us from conditions like arthritis and back pain, and help prevent falls in elderly people. And when you build strength through yoga, you balance it with flexibility. If you just went to the gym and lifted weights, you might build strength at the expense of flexibility.
Yoga protects your spine: Spinal disks—the shock absorbers between the vertebrae that can herniate and compress nerves—crave movement. That’s the only way they get their nutrients. If you’ve got a well-balanced asana practice with plenty of backbends, forward bends, and twists, you’ll help keep your disks supple.
Another very popular type of Yoga is Bikram Yoga. Most people know it as Hot Yoga. The founder, Bikram Choudhury, created this yoga type from traditional Hatha techniques. The room stays at 104 degrees with 40% humidity.
Unfortunately Bikram Choudhury has been accused and sued over disparaging acts and the training camps associate a cult-like atmosphere.
While it’s safe to say Bikram Yoga is not at the high point it once saw, this guide will help you do a quick at-home workout. Let’s go stretching!
