As one of the world’s oldest disciplines, yoga has a loyal populace that loves to share their love and provide tips to others. The yoga community has a rich culture that dates back millennia. Many generations of Indians passed down the noble traditions and incorporated them into their local communities. With the oral spread and evolution of yoga, many branches split off and became unique. If you ever find a yoga course in Singapore interesting, remember that not all yoga styles are the same. 

Yoga became more diverse as its popularity grew outside India’s borders. People worldwide partake in the widely-recognised exercise called yoga. You can even find yoga in a myriad of languages if you wish. Many individuals go to classes in Hindi, Spanish, and English, but you can easily find a Chinese yoga teacher if you wish. Find an active yoga community in almost every part of the world.

Do not be surprised to learn that yoga is so popular. You can attribute the success of yoga to how accessible it is when compared to other exercise forms. You can even experience a blend of spiritual, mental, and physical directions that help you sustain your overall health and happiness. Yoga is practical, affordable, and accessible. Sustain a happy social life when you start yoga!

Should you try yoga?

Judging by the benefits listed above, maybe you should. But people around you might say that you should not join a bandwagon. After all, it is still an exercise. But for some conditions, you should look a little deeper into the reasons why people love them. If you want to achieve a sense of balance and follow a holistic routine that benefits your mind and body, then, by all means, try yoga. Yoga is also seen as a more relaxing form of exercise than high-impact or high-contact ones like track running or dancing.

Exercise and sports are exhausting endeavours, but yoga occupies a specific niche that many other activities cannot. Yoga training courses can be anything you want them to be. Some can be energetic, others test your flexibility, and others allow you to have a calm mind and heart.

To the question of whether you should try out yoga, the answer is simple. If you want to try something new and are willing to see yourself commit to a yoga style that suits you, then go for it. Many people interested in yoga might have already tried a few exercises on social media or video sites and dismissed the possibility of pursuing a yoga workout. Do not be fooled– maybe the beginner yoga videos are not for you. It is not always as relaxing as it seems.

Some might prefer faster yoga exercises or more specific ones. There is no ‘one size fits all’ for yoga. You have to know more about the different types of yoga that you can experience.

What are some yoga types you should know about?

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In reality, there are dozens of yoga types– and with each passing generation, there seem to be new ones popping up. Diversity happens when yoga is taught to younger children. They might tweak certain areas or give others focus. Unlike stricter disciplines, yoga is an art form that grows and evolves. While it still retains some core principles, some teachings may vary across yoga styles, and some might even contradict others.

The most exciting thing about yoga is that there is no right or wrong way to practise yoga. Every yoga type mentioned here is a valid form of yoga that you can enjoy. You might even find yoga fusion classes with other dance or exercise classes. A modern yoga community made it its mission to attract as many people to the discipline as possible.

Who knows? You might want to take a yoga instructor course in Singapore soon.  But before that can happen, you need to choose a yoga style you prefer to learn.

1) Hatha Yoga

Meaning ‘sun and moon,’ Hatha is a Sanskrit word that has a deeper meaning. Hatha yoga calls yogists to balance opposing forces and achieve a deep harmony with the self. You can balance your mental and physical energies and also evade crippling your flexibility with strength is the hallmark of Hatha yoga. 

When you start your yoga journey, the first one you encounter might be this one. Hatha yoga emphasises physical exercise over other aspects of yoga. This has led to the yoga style having stereotypes for beginners who want to know more about poses, meditation, and breathing exercises.

2) Vinyasa yoga

In Sanskrit, Vinyasa means ‘to place in special ways.’ It is an apt description of Vinyasa yoga because Vinyasa yoga focuses the most on poses. If you like the vibes of your beginner classes, but want something more physical, then you should try vinyasa yoga. It is one of the more athletic types of yoga, so you must be ready to adapt to the faster pace it has. Vinyasa yoga is also called flow yoga because you ‘flow’ into each pose you make. 

3) Iyengar yoga

Founded by B.K.S. Iyengar, Iyengar yoga focuses on teaching you the correct alignment of your bones and muscles. An Iyengar yoga class in Singapore will challenge your idea of how long your muscles can go under pressure. Poses are generally held for longer periods and Iyengar yoga is said to help you perfect your posture and form.

You don’t need to ask yourself ‘Are there Chinese yoga classes near me?’ when you discover Yoga Mandala. Yoga Mandala is a yoga studio where you can find English and Chinese language yoga classes that you can enjoy.