Yoga is an ancient practice with a wide variety of schools, goals, and practices.
A spiritual practice for many thousands of years, yoga has become incredibly popular in the United States over the last few decades.
Are you looking for a way to spice up your traditional yoga practice?
Let’s take a look at unique yoga classes you can try.
Cat Yoga
Cat yoga is usually hosted at cat cafes. This is a great way to improve your breathing, balance, and overall health, while at the same time checking out some adorable adoptable cats.
Silent Yoga
Silent yoga combines different types of yoga poses with a full sensory experience. Typically practiced in the dark while wearing headphones that direct you with cues and get you into the zone with music, you might find silent yoga helps you go deeper into each pose.
Doga
While doga is kind of a sloppy portmanteau, (a combination of dog and yoga, but pronounced to rhyme with the latter,) you have to admit it’s a pretty fun idea. Dogs can be great companions during yoga and it can be a great bonding experience between you and your furry best friend.
Laughter Yoga
Laughter is good for you mentally and physically, and most of us probably don’t do it enough. With laughter yoga, the stress-relieving benefits of laughter are combined with the mind-body exercise of yoga, this type of yoga could suit just about anybody.
Bunny Yoga
Are you noticing a theme here? People love to incorporate adorable animals into their yoga practice. Can you blame them?
Imagine looking forward during a sun salutation, just to see a fluffy, long-earred bunny bounce by. Being around animals can help us relax and remember what really matters, and doing that with bunny rabbits is a recipe for hopping good time.
Hiking Yoga
In places where nature abounds, you can sometimes find programs that combine a beautiful hike with a peaceful yoga session. If you think your savasana is peaceful on your bedroom floor, imagine how amazing it could feel deep in the Rocky Mountains.
Beer Yoga
Of the different types of yoga, this is one almost anyone can get behind. Usually held at taprooms or breweries, beer yoga (sometimes called brewga) incorporates beer drinking either during or after the practice. While there is some criticism that this practice is unhealthy, others retort that alcohol was sometimes used in yoga rituals as long ago as the 6th century.
Underwater Yoga
Being in the water is so relaxing and good for your body and mind. Practicing yoga while in the water can help you hold positions longer and maintain your balance with ease. This is because your body isn’t holding nearly as much of it’s weight as usual when submerged in chest-deep water.
Goat Yoga
Another trending type of yoga meditation is goat yoga. By incorporating animal therapy into the practice of yoga, it’s kind of like a two-for-one deal. Proponants of goat yoga say that the presence of goats while doing yoga can help boost your hormone levels, relieve stress, and overtime enhance your quality of life.
Snowga
Don’t get snowed in this winter! Instead, join a yoga class that practices snowga. Snowga combines yoga with a winter wonderland setting. It can feel amazing to warm your body while feeling the cold wind on your skin.
Snowga is also a great way to get some vitamin D in the depths of winter. The pillowy nature of snow makes a wonderful landing mat in case you lose your balance, and it’s a great pre-skiing activity.
Naked Yoga
If you’re feeling bold, you might consider practicing naked yoga. This actually harkens back to spiritual practices of ancient times and is mentioned in the Bhagavata Purana, which was written between the 7th and 10th century.
There is also a practice known as spiritual nudity that is common among ascetic groups in dharmic religions.
The emergence of naked yoga in modern times is attributed to a movement called Lebensreform.
Naked yoga can be practiced in gender specific or all gender groups. A growing trend across Ameria, naked yoga is a popular form of experimental yoga.
The Benefits of Different Types of Yoga
Yoga has a long list of physical and mental health benefits. Some of these include:
- Increasing your flexibility
- Strengthening and toning your muscles
- Maintaining a balanced metabolism
- Supporting circulatory and cardio health
- Improving athletic performance
- Improving energy levels, repiration, and vitality
- Reducing weight
- Providing injury protection
- Decreasing stress
- Relieving anxiety
- Potentially reducing inflammation
- Improving overall quality of life
- Potentially fighting depression
- Potentially reducing chronic pain
- Potentially promoting quality sleep
- Potentially relieving migraines
- Promoting health eating habits
Yoga is an excellent practice to incorporate into your fitness routine.
Are you a mom that’s trying to find the time to improve your fitness and health? Check out this list of nine reasons why every mom should have a personal trainer.
These Unique Yoga Classes Will Spice Up Your Practice
There are a lot of great reasons to practice yoga. Whether you’re trying to improve your balance, reduce your stress, become more flexible, or get in touch with your spiritual side, yoga is a healthy practice to improve your well-being.
With the popularlity of yoga, unique yoga classes have popped up all across the country. Whether you want to flow with goats or in the snow, there is something out there for everyone.
Are you looking for fitness classes to join to build strength? Check out our classes today!