Different Yoga Tradition and Prenatal Yoga

Source : http://www.10prenatal-yoga.com/

Pregnancy is never the time to take your yoga practice to a new or more intense level. Take it easy and play it safe. As always, make sure to consult with your prenatal healthcare provider before starting any exercise regime, or if at any time you may have questions concerning if prenatal yoga practice is suitable for you.


There are various traditions or styles of yoga; each style has its own focus, poses, and level of intensity and complexion. Most of the different traditions of yoga (with modifications) are considered safe and beneficial for expecting moms who are experiencing a normal and healthy pregnancy, except for Bikram yoga, which is performed a hot room.

Let’s have a quick look at some of the commonly practiced styles of yoga:

Ashtanga
This style is preferred by many sport persons, as it focuses on strength, flexibility, and stamina. Hence, Ashtanga yoga is also known as power yoga. Ashtanga yoga practitioners incorporate with inhalation and exhalation; quickly move from one posture to another posture in a continuous flow. Ashtanga yoga is recommended for more experienced yoga students or practitioners and fit individuals as the postures are usually more difficult than those practiced in other tradition or style.


Bikram
Bikram yoga is a much more intense form of yoga, practise in a room heated to at least 105 degrees Fahrenheit or 40 degrees Celsius. It helps to remove symptoms of diseases and chronic pain with regular practice. Bikram yoga focuses on 26 postures which are performed in a specific order. It is only recommended to yoga veterans and extremely fit individuals. Pregnant women should be refrained from practicing Bikram yoga.


Hatha
Hatha yoga is a softer form of yoga, focuses on simple poses that flow smoothly and gently, from one posture to another at a very comfortable and easy pace. Hatha yoga practitioners focus on their breathing and meditation. Iyengar yoga is the most widely recognized approach to Hatha yoga. Hatha yoga practice suit beginners or those who haven't exercised for a while perfectly well. Most hatha yoga practitioners use props such as chairs, straps, pillows, blocks and sandbags to assist in flexibility enhancement.


Kripalu
Kripalu Yoga is an inquiry-based approach to life, uses classic yoga postures, breathing, and meditation and relaxation techniques to achieve and maintain good physical, mental and spiritual health. It helps to increase awareness of thoughts, words, feeling and actions. It focuses on posture correction, following good body mechanics and strengthening the back to eliminate pains and aches .


Kundalini
Kundalini yoga combines chanting, meditations, visualizations, and guided relaxation. It focuses on purifying and healing the mind, body, and emotions. Kundalini yoga observes a set of advance yoga exercises. These exercises are also sometimes known as Kriya yoga or Kriya.
Sivananda
Sivananda yoga combines breathing, relaxation, and mantra chanting. It is one of the world's largest schools of yoga. The Sivananda yoga aims to retain the vitality of the body, slow down the decaying process, and decrease chance of disease, by cultivating and educating the body naturally.

Viniyoga
Viniyoga helps to develop strength, balance, and healing in a mild and individualized form. It is ideal for beginners, seniors and those suffer from chronic pain or who are rehabilitating from disease and or injury.