Once you stretch with yoga you will never go back to the old hunched over shape again. Yoga will teach you breathing techniques, how to stretch correctly and you’ll learn how to handle life’s daily stresses. Be it from family problems or irritating bosses without going bonkers. The poses feel good and not at all like exercise, but make no mistake, yoga is serious. Continue and you’ll see the difference in muscle tone, better balance and improved posture. If you’re impressed with the improvement in a couple of months of yoga, see what six months will do for you. You will see a greater attention span and as you learn to pay closer attention to you body and you will recognize that you are capable of much more than you ever imagined. The movements you learn at the beginning of yoga will soon become second nature.
yoga under sakura (Photo credit: soulfish)
When deciding what type of yoga classes you want to take, ask yourself these questions. Do you want to gain flexibility, relieve stress, regain strength after an injury or illness, or lose weight? The trick is picking the type of yoga that matches your interest.
“Iyengar” will help you to make small adjustments to achieve the ideal body alignment and give greater awareness of your body. It also improves posture and relieves stress. It is less aerobic than other disciplines If you have injuries you’ll have to work closely with the teacher to see that you don’t strain muscles when doing the more challenging poses.
“Integral, Sivananda, and Kripalu” These are more meditative and focus on inner strength in addition to outward movements. You’ll learn to relieve stress with deliberate movements, plus breathing exercises that help strengthens the body as they clear the mind.
“Bikram or Ashtanga” is a specific sequence of postures in rapid succession, after a few classes, you’ll fall into the rhythm of movement. This type of yoga is highly aerobic and hypnotic. If you have heart problems or hypertension, you should choose a less strenuous type of yoga. Bikram is taught in a very hot room to warm muscles, so be careful not to get dehydrated.
“Anusara” focuses on maintaining body alignment and seeing the divine nature within each person. It’s a serious workout with physical discipline, but the teaching approach is lighthearted and playful. Whatever type of yoga class you choose, start out in a beginners class.
Source : http://healthmad.com/fitness/stretch-your-body-and-spirit-with-yoga/