8 Best Yoga to Try During Pandemic

Covid-19 has taken quite a toll on everyone's physical and mental well-being, making it a super tough year for all. People are anxious about their health, their jobs, their future, and the well-being of their loved ones. Furthermore, with the consistent lockdown, there has been very little to no human contact that one often finds calming in distressing times.
 
To top it all off, the limited physical activity and physical restriction due to the pandemic has made people gain a lot of weight, making them prone to various other ailments as well. Fortunately, there is one physical activity that can be performed from the comfort of your home.
 
Yoga is a super effective form of physical activity that improves both physical and mental health. Moreover, there are different types of yoga out there that are equally beneficial for coping with the pandemic, and you can choose the one you want to perform according to your taste. Keep reading to learn how various forms of yoga can be your lifesaver during this pandemic.
 
1.    Vinyasa YogaVinyasa yoga is also known as Vinyasa flow yoga. The Vinyasa yoga has been awarded this name since it comprises various poses that have been strung together with different styles of movements, coupled with breathing movements. If you're training with an instructor, then they will tell you to transition from one pose to the other while maintaining the regular inhaling and exhaling pattern.
 
The common rule is to inhale when you shift upwards and exhale when shifting downwards. The pace of the class can be set according to your personal preference as it can be both slow and fast. This gives you a lot of time to de-stress and enjoy a complete physical workout.
 
2.    Kundalini YogaKundalini Yoga is the queen of all yoga forms as it is one of the oldest and popular types of yoga. The kundalini translates to the inner potential that’s present within all of us but hasn’t been fully utilized. However, this yoga form specializes in discovering that potential and helping you make the most of it.
 
However, this yoga is very simple and easy to perform as it consists of regular poses that are easy to adopt. There is a lot of chanting in the kundalini yoga as well, which helps to ease your mental stress. Anyone who gives this yoga a try is sure to become a fan for life.
3.    Ashtanga YogaIf you're one of those people who have gained a few additional pounds during the pandemic, then this is the perfect type of yoga for you. Ashtanga yoga is a type of yoga that is more intense physically as compared to the rest. It is also faster in pace. This yoga is performed by syncing your breathing while transitioning between different poses.
 
Your body gets warm, and there is a lot of sweating in this yoga as well, which is ideal for toxin removal from your body. Ashtanga yoga is based on eight phases, and every one of them comes with specific breathing and movement steps that are ideal for a healthy body and mind.
 
4.    Hot YogaHot yoga has been a favorite among many celebrities recently due to its super effective results. This yoga is also famous as Bikram yoga, and it consists of twenty-six poses. The unique thing about hot yoga is that it's performed in a room with super high temperatures that usually exist between 85 to 100 degrees. 
 
You can easily perform this yoga at home by choosing a small, closed room and filling it with steam. There are multiple benefits of hot yoga as it allows your body to stretch out like never before and enhances your flexibility. It also works as a brilliant detox as it makes you sweat a lot.
 
5.    Iyengar YogaIyengar yoga is ideal for enhancing your control of breathing. It also improves your posture and makes you feel super relaxed at the end of the session. This yoga consists of various yoga postures, and you can increase the difficulty level as per your choice.
 
You might need to use certain support for performing a few poses, but it's all worth it at the end of the day. This type of yoga is a light physical activity that will keep you active and entertained during the lockdown.
 
6.    Restorative YogaAs the name suggests, restorative yoga is ideal for improving your mental well-being as it makes you forget all about the daily problems you face and helps you relax. This yoga is also super beneficial for enhancing your immune function. It helps with various ailments such as digestive issues, lack of sleep, infertility, and overall exhaustion as well.
 
7.    Pranayama BreathingThe word breathing in Pranayama Breathing suggests how effective it will be for your breathing function. This yoga focuses on controlled breathing, and it's perfect for anyone who suffers from respiratory issues like asthma.
There are multiple forms to this yoga as well, which come with various breathing patterns. The breathing can be done through the nose or mouth, and it also alternates between both nostrils. This yoga is ideal for clearing your mind, strengthening your breathing, and improving your blood pressure.
 
8.    Hatha YogaHatha yoga is a very famous yoga since it's based on the general principle of rediscovering and becoming one with your mind and body. This yoga consists of six types of movements, and it has a lot of breathing workouts. The light nature of Hatha yoga makes it the perfect pick for anyone who is new to yoga. Hatha yoga specializes in posture improvement and making your body more flexible.
 
9.    Final WordYoga is a physical activity that’s ideal for improving your physical and mental state. It can either be an intense or light exercise depending upon your preference. Try out any of our mentioned yoga types and experience the difference in your life yourself.
 
References
Health and fitness travel, “8 Different Types of Yoga”, November 06, 2014, https://www.healthandfitnesstravel.com/blog/8-different-types-of-yoga
 
Catherine Woodyard, “Exploring the therapeutic effects of yoga and its ability to increase quality of life," July 04, 2011, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3193654/.
 
Arndt Büssing, Andreas Michalsen, Sat Bir S. Khalsa, Shirley Telles, Karen J. Sherman, “Effects of Yoga on Mental and Physical Health: A Short Summary of Reviews," September 13, 2012, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3447533/
 
Christine Wiese, David Keil, Anne S Rasmussen, Rikke Olesen, “Effects of Yoga Asana Practice Approach on Types of Benefits Experienced," December 2019, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6746050/