It seems like everyone is onto the new yoga hype, whether they’re bending over backward (literally) to get the Instagram photo or genuinely whispering ‘Om’ to find their inner Zen, either way, we wanted in! We're massive Yogi's at ROR HQ (Hot Yoga is our bag) but there's definitely a style for everyone. Before you get started, we have collected all of the important info and created a blog explaining it as best as we can - thank us later!
What Is Yoga?
Yoga is an ancient form of exercise that focuses on strength, flexibility, and breathing to boost physical and general wellbeing. As well as turning you as flexible as a Betty Spaghetty, it is also a tried and tested method of relaxing the mind.
The History and Where It Began
It began in India over 5,000 years ago, as a ritual to sacrifice the 'self' to gain enlightenment - basically! Not too complicated, right? Yoga was brought over to the West in the 1800's but saw a huge growth in popularity in the past 5-10 years due to the huge health wave. Health guru's and more recently influencers have adopted the once sacred practice and transformed it into an Instagrammers perfect sport as Yoga, health and well-being all go hand in hand! Especially with the cute yoga clothing being released...*Shameless plug*
The Different Types of Yoga
There are many different types, whether you’re going to get fitter, more flexible or to find your inner Zen, these are a few of the most popular practices of yoga:
Bikram yoga - AKA hot yoga: It follows the same 26 poses (although it feels like more..!!) in a room heated with approx 40% humidity. Aim: to release toxins physically and spiritually and to also stretch and strengthen the muscles.
Yin yoga - Slower, more controlled, uses the pull of gravity to help release the tension on the connective tissues around the spine, hips, and pelvis.
Ashtanga/Power yoga - A faster form of yoga, each pose is traditionally only held for 5 breaths, to give the student more of a workout.
Iyengar yoga - Sometimes referred to as corrective yoga, typically for general posture or for corrective purposes if a student is recovering from an injury or general stiffness.
Jivamukti yoga - More spiritual and somewhat theory based as it includes chanting, scripture readings and music.
Sivananda yoga - A style of yoga that includes twelve basic postures and sun salutations. It also focuses heavily on relaxation, diet, breathing, positive thinking and exercise.
Keywords You Should Know Before Attending Your First Class Zen - It means being present in the moment and practicing a relaxed and simple state of mind.
Namaste - A respectful way to end a class or thank your teacher. “I bow to you” is the literal translation.
Om - It is an ancient mantra that represents the coming together of the mind, body, and spirit.
Asana - The physical poses practiced during yoga.
Vinyasa - The act of a continual flow of poses.
Pranayama - To control your breathing.
Sun Salutation - A flow of 12 or 16 yoga poses to draw energy from the sun. Whether you are a professional yogi or an enthusiastic beginner, our new yoga collection will have you feeling ‘Zen’ in no time… Now you really can find your inner calm AND get the Instagram picture!
Can't get enough? Follow our Pinterest board for yoga inspiration and daily board updates!
Emma @ ROR x
