by Susan Z. Miller

Created on: November 06, 2009

There are countless ways that all individuals, young and old, can benefit from regular yoga practice. Yoga provides strength, clarity of mind, relaxation, detoxification, and even has the power to help prevent a wide variety of diseases and ailments. When selecting a yoga DVD for your own home practice, or choosing a class to attend at your local yoga studio or gym, it may be difficult to determine which type of yoga is best for you. The traditional and original yoga names are in Sanskrit, and familiarizing yourself with a few Sanskrit terms can allow you to select the best type of yoga for your personal practice.

-Hatha-
Hatha yoga is the form which is best known in the Western world. Its main focus is on the practice of yoga postures, which are called asanas, and the practice of yoga breathing, which is called pranayama. Most classes labeled "beginning yoga" will be Hatha classes, because of its focus on these basic yogic principles.

Of course, if you are starting your practice as a yogi, look for "beginning" classes and DVDs. It is very important to become comfortable with the basics of yoga before accelerating your practice. Yoga is entirely non-competitive, so start slowly and allow yourself time to focus on every little detail of your practice.

-Vinyasa-
Vinyasa is a term that you will probably hear in any yoga class you attend. When Vinyasa in used as a noun, such as when the instructor says to "go through Vinyasa," this means to take the body through a specific series of poses.

Classes that are specifically names Vinyasa yoga are going to concentrate on flowing movement. The word Vinyasa literally means "breath synchronized movement." In this type of class, you will be directed by the instructor through a series of connected, flowing movements. There is less emphasis on holding a specific posture and stretching, and more on movement.

-Iyengar-
Iyengar yoga is based on the teachings of the yogi B.K.S. Iyengar. It focuses primarily on body alignment. This style will differ from the types of Vinyasa yoga because it focuses on holding poses for a long period of time rather than flowing.

Iyengar is a good choice for the beginning to intermediate yoga student. It will help you to learn the precise way that a yoga pose should be held in order to obtain the maximum strength building benefits while avoiding injury. Iyengar also encourages the use of yoga props such as blocks and straps, so this type of class is a good choice in order to learn how to use these as

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