Different styles of yoga are taught in Rishikesh to provide various benefits to the body and mind. These include Iyengar yoga, which focuses on using props like blocks, chairs and blankets to achieve perfect alignment.
Other forms of yoga include Laughter Yoga and Vinyasa yoga. These are also used to promote mental health and spiritual growth. Visit for Yoga teacher training in rishikesh.
Hatha Yoga
Known as the Yoga Capital of the World, Rishikesh attracts passionate yogis from all over the globe to embark on a yoga teacher training course. The spiritual essence of the Ganga river and the Himalayan mountains makes Rishikesh the ideal place to learn yoga and experience this ancient practice in its purest form.
The word Hatha means Sun and Moon energy and the purpose of hatha yoga is to balance these energies. It is a combination of physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation.
A hatha yoga class can have longer poses held for 3 breaths up to a few minutes compared to vinyasa classes that tend to be faster flowing from one pose to another. A hatha class may also have more movements that are counterbalanced to help students leave feeling balanced, Maria says. The intermediate series of hatha yoga, called Nadi Shodana is a great way to challenge yourself. It requires mastery of the primary series and adds new poses that make this a challenging series for advanced students.
Ashtanga Yoga
This vigorous and orderly style of yoga is ideal for those who want a challenge and love a lot of structure. It is usually taught in Mysore-style, where students memorize a sequence of poses and work through them at their own pace with the guidance of a teacher. This allows the student to focus on their own practice and master each pose before moving on to the next.
Similar to Vinyasa Yoga, Ashtanga uses breath-linked movement to improve physical fitness and help yogis achieve a state of mental peace. However, unlike Vinyasa Yoga where the flow is fluid and improvised, a good Ashtanga instructor will guide the student through six different sequences of postures that remain the same each time. The first of these is called the Primary Series or Yoga Chikitsa and works to develop a basic level of health. The sequences also include sun salutations and seated and standing poses. Students are encouraged to practice at least six days a week, with the exception of the new and full moons, which are considered rest or meditation days.
Vinyasa Yoga
Often referred to as Flow Yoga, Vinyasa is a practice that flows from one posture to another and is synchronized with the breath. The flowing movements can be fast and are a great workout for the body, increasing cardiovascular health and generating internal heat.
A Vinyasa class typically includes a combination of standing, seated and supine poses, twists, balancing poses and backbends, explains Maria. Classes usually begin with a warm-up sequence and may include Sun Salutations or similar movements to help warm up the muscles and prepare for the practice.
As the classes progress, students will be taught how to move safely into a wide variety of poses, ranging from beginner to advanced levels. Students learn to move with the breath, which is a core component of Vinyasa, and build strength in all areas of the body as well as flexibility. The pace of the class can vary from rapid to slow, depending on the individual student.
Yin Yoga
Yin yoga is slow-paced and passive, focusing on the body’s connective tissues (ligaments, tendons, and fascia) instead of muscles. Poses are held for longer periods of time, anywhere from two to five minutes or more. Yin yoga improves flexibility and promotes healthy joints. It also helps balance the flow of energy throughout the body.
This quiet practice is based on the philosophy of ancient Chinese health practices and spiritual traditions. It encourages practitioners to release emotions stored in the physical body and embrace the ebb and flow of change in our lives.
Yin poses are designed to improve the flow of “qi” or life force, which runs through the meridian pathways in the body. The gentle stress of the poses enables us to release blockages in these meridians, which can be caused by injury, poor posture, or just aging. They can also prevent nutrient and energy from flowing freely through the joints, causing pain and limited mobility.