Yoga - Power of Mind Or Body Fitness?

Practicing yoga is a great way to enhance your flexibility - if you do lots of stretching; to find your balance - by controlling your breath; to keep straight posture - when you engage your core and to tone your muscles - by overall dynamic yet controlled movements.

You can choose from yoga classes designed for stress- release to more strenuous physical workouts intended to supplement weight loss.

While yoga originated in India and was a big part of a spiritual life, western society has adopted many of its basic principles as a low impact physical fitness workout. Is yoga becoming only a fitness regime to tone your muscles or is there something left for the mind?

Below you will find a description of some of the well known yoga styles and it is up to you which one you will be tempted to choose from.

1) So ... if you are interested to take up yoga as Body Fitness routine there is plenty for you on the market:

Power Yoga
Ashtanga Yoga
Dynamic Yoga
Bikram Yoga (Hot Yoga)

Those classes are aiming toward toning muscle groups and enhancing control offering a more intense workout than most other types of Yoga.

They generally comprised of one and a half hour workout that cycles through several series of postures. The intense aerobic nature of the workout could be difficult for beginners, but it provides the most opportunity for muscle toning and body sculpting.

2) A relatively new form of exercise-based yoga designed to work on toning and slimming your abdominals, thighs and bottom is: Core Yoga

Many students of this type of yoga use it as extras to their regular workout to target problem areas where the extra weight is easily collected. This form of yoga helps to alleviate back pain, and many exercises originate from the spine. If you actively participate in those yoga classes you can expect to lose inches around your waist, bottom and hips.

3) The closest form of yoga to achieve the Power of Mind is: Hatha Yoga

It has everything; the breathing, relaxation, postures and most importantly it is not a class design to work on your ego-muscles issue but to work within, focusing more on the inside rather than on the outside.

If you are new to yoga this is a class for you. These hatha yoga classes will provide a balanced workout between body and mind. You will feel relaxed, refreshed and at the same time rejuvenated.

For more information about the author check http://www.yoga-london.org.uk

Ms Barbara is a Certified Yoga trainer and also a Teacher in Physical Education. She is a member of REPs as Advance Instructor level 3.

She have been learning, practicing and teaching many styles of yoga for around 10 years. Her classes vary in dynamics and strength, depending on the level of students. Some classes may be very gentle and meditative, while other very powerful and strong.

For more information about the author check http://www.yoga-london.org.uk