ALEXOLOGY DAILY

What is yoga, who is it for and how to start practicing?

Fitness / Date: 04-18-2025

An ancient practice with worldwide reach, yoga is a physical activity and also a philosophy of life that works on concentration, strength and flexibility to achieve a single objective: the union between mind, body and spirit .This is because the modality is based on the belief that, in order to have balance in life, these three pillars must be in harmony . And to achieve this purpose, the practice uses asanas (postures), meditation and breathing control as aids . Thus, it is possible to have health and well-being every day.

After all, what does yoga mean?

A word of Sanskrit origin, translated as “to unite” or “to control”, yoga is an ancient art and also a philosophy of life. With over five thousand years of existence, it originated in India, and is composed of exercises and techniques aimed at the well-being of the yogi (practitioner).

As a modality, yoga has numerous branches, each with its own particularities . All of them aim to use the body as a tool for personal balance , hence the different postures. The focus is to work them together with breathing, so that there is harmony in the movements.

It is also important to remember the presence of meditation, a technique that is essential for classes. Through it, it is possible to have concentration and control the quality of thoughts , ensuring an effective practice. In parallel, it is what maintains (along with breathing) good posture to perform the asanas .

Ultimately, as a philosophy, the goal is to consciously work on the mind and body . By establishing harmony between the two, one can achieve inner peace, control of the mind and connection with the Universe.

More than just an activity, yoga is a lifestyle that makes practitioners think about their own actions, taking the routine out of automatic mode .

What are the most popular types of yoga?

Over time, the modality has been adapted to accommodate different types of practitioners and, consequently, new styles have emerged. It is possible to practice yoga to gain strength and muscular endurance, flexibility, or simply as a choice for well-being .

There are a multitude of options, and below you can see the 5 most popular ones:

1. Hatha Yoga

Considered the main branch of yoga , the Hatha style is characterized by the union between mind and emotion . This is because the modality believes in transcendence through the body, so to achieve this goal, it is important that these two pillars are aligned.

The most popular style around the world , Hatha uses the most common postures of the practice, so it is a simple and versatile style for everyone, regardless of the goals of the classes. And because it focuses on health, it is a variation without philosophical ties .

2. Kundalini Yoga

A style sought after by those seeking self-knowledge , Kundalini is nothing more than a symbol for the energetic base of the human being, which represents the moment of now. In other words, it is a version of yoga that reflects the actions and desires of the conscious , through an intense and stimulating practice.

Even though the description makes it seem more difficult, Kundalini Yoga can be summarized as energizing and dynamic exercises, with a focus on meditation to work in depth on the practitioner's spiritual side .

3. Ashtanga Yoga

A variation of Hatha Yoga, Ashtanga works with a sequence of 6 fixed series that progress over the years , with a lot of training and dedication. Each series has an order of postures, in which the yogi understands his or her own body. With each class, it is possible to gain body awareness, strength and flexibility .

Here, the asanas need to be done according to the capacity of the person practicing them , therefore, it is not possible to do series 2 without first masterfully completing series 1. This happens because the body needs to have enough mobility and structure to perform the postures , that is, to avoid any type of injury, it is necessary to go little by little.

Considered by many to be one of the most complex styles, there is no record of anyone having completed all 6 series. It is also worth noting that this is a difficult practice, so do not do it without the supervision of a qualified instructor!

4. Power Yoga

Power Yoga is also a variation of Hatha. In it, the yogi needs to reconcile breathing with the postures of the practice . As the classes progress, the asanas become more intense, so knowing how to control the air that enters the lungs is a necessary skill to evolve in this branch.

As a benefit, it is possible to improve physical conditioning and muscular resistance , in addition to helping with weight loss, after all, the constant change of postures helps with high calorie expenditure.

It is worth noting that, as it requires control of movements between series, Power Yoga is not for beginners, as it requires a certain level of strength and physical preparation.

5. Vinyasa Yoga

Finally, one last style to inspire you to seek a healthier life is Vinyasa Yoga!

With the aim of focusing on breathing and the intensity of the postures , Vinyasa aims for dynamism, so it is not a choice for everyone. This is because it is necessary to have prior knowledge of the asanas , so it is only recommended for those who already know and practice the Hatha or Ashtanga variations.

However, even though it is a more advanced aspect, nothing stops you from researching a little more and seeking, as far as possible, the necessary evolution to start in the sport!