What's Your Yoga Type: Identify Your Yoga Personality

You know you want to try a new yoga class, but what kind? There are so many to choose from these days, and although all are based on doing the same yoga poses, their approaches differ widely. Your personality, likes and dislikes, and even your physical abilities and needs can help you identify the right style for you, so you don’t get turned off by a class that doesn’t suit you.

Free Spirit
You like eclectic experiences, a little different each time.
Vinyasa

Gym Rat
You want your yoga class fast and sweaty, like a great workout.
Bikram/Hot
Power Yoga
Vinyasa

Gymnast
You bend like a pretzel.
Ashtanga
Forrest

Injured
You have an injury or condition that requires special attention.
Iyengar

Mellow
You want to do some stretching, take it slow.
Hatha
Integral

Meticulous
The more precise the instruction, the better.
Anusara
Iyengar

Self-motivated
Just teach me the moves and show me to the mat.
Ashtanga

Singer
Chanting is your thing.
Jivamukti
Kundalini

Spiritual Seeker
You like to move, but also hear uplifting teachings and get in touch with your spiritual side.
Anusara
Jivamukti
Kundalini

Traditionalist
If it wasn't founded an Indian guru, you want no part.
Ashtanga
Iyengar
Integral
Kundalini

Type A
You like to know what to expect and exactly how long it will take.
Ashtanga
Bikram

Why Yoga?

After a traumatic life change and several setbacks I found myself overweight, depressed, and plagued with anxiety. I researched for an answer. An array of various solutions appeared but yoga stood out among the rest. I've always been a believer in natural holistic remedies. It just made sense to me. Yoga is an ancient practice that helps create a sense of union in body, mind, and spirit. It brings us balance. The root of all illness and problems stems from not having balance in one or more areas. I think making a journey towards becoming a yogi... yogini will help give me the inner confidence, peace, and health I've been looking for in the wrong places. So I'm devoting an hour a day to practicing yoga and enriching my life. Slowly I hope to change my body and mind through this ancient practice. I will blogging daily or weekly to track my progress and record what I've learned. I hope that anyone who reads this is informed, intrigued, and inspired to do the same. It's a lot of information about letting yoga become part of your life but it's overwhelming too. Maybe as I weed through the process as an example others will find it less difficult.

Benefits:
Yoga is a science that has been practiced for thousands of years. It is consists of Ancient Theories, observations and principles about the mind and body connection which is now being proven by modern medicine. Substantial research has been conducted to look at the Health Benefits of Yoga - from the Yoga Postures (Asanas), Yoga Breathing (Pranayama), and Meditation. The information on Yoga Poses & Benefits are grouped into three categories-physiological, psychological, biochemical effects. Furthermore, scientists have laid these results against the benefits of regular exercise

Physiological Benefits of Yoga

• Stable autonomic nervous system equilibrium
• Pulse rate decreases
• Respiratory rate decreases
• Blood Pressure decreases (of special significance for hyporeactors)
• Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) increases
• EEG - alpha waves increase (theta, delta, and beta waves also increase during various stages of meditation)
• EMG activity decreases
• Cardiovascular efficiency increases
• Respiratory efficiency increases
• Gastrointestinal function normalizes
• Endocrine function normalizes
• Excretory functions improve
• Musculoskeletal flexibility and joint range of motion increase
• Breath-holding time increases
• Joint range of motion increase
• Grip strength increases
• Eye-hand coordination improves
• Dexterity skills improve
• Reaction time improves
• Posture improves
• Strength and resiliency increase
• Endurance increases
• Energy level increases
• Weight normalizes
• Sleep improves
• Immunity increases
• Pain decreases
• Steadiness improves
• Depth perception improves
• Balance improves
• Integrated functioning of body parts improves

Psychological Benefits of Yoga

• Somatic and kinesthetic awareness increase
• Mood improves and subjective well-being increases
• Self-acceptance and self-actualization increase
• Social adjustment increases
• Anxiety and Depression decrease
• Hostility decreases
• Concentration improves
• Memory improves
• Attention improves
• Learning efficiency improves
• Mood improves
• Self-actualization increase
• Social skills increases
• Well-being increases
• Somatic and kinesthetic awareness increase
• Self-acceptance increase
• Attention improves
• Concentration improves
• Memory improves
• Learning efficiency improves
• Symbol coding improves
• Depth perception improves
• Flicker fusion frequency improves

Biochemical Benefits of Yoga

• Glucose decreases
• Sodium decreases
• Total cholesterol decreases
• Triglycerides decrease
• HDL cholesterol increases
• LDL cholesterol decreases
• VLDL cholesterol decreases
• Cholinesterase increases
• Catecholamines decrease
• ATPase increases
• Hematocrit increases
• Hemoglobin increases
• Lymphocyte count increases
• Total white blood cell count decreases
• Thyroxin increases
• Vitamin C increases
• Total serum protein increases