Yoga offers practitioners plenty of health benefits, including building core strength, improving posture, toning up, and calming the mind. If you regularly practice high-impact exercises such as running or HIIT training, yoga is the perfect accompaniment to soothe your muscles and joints.

When most of us think of yoga, we imagine a gentle practice, and in many instances, yoga is a gentle form of exercise. This leaves some of us wondering is yoga a good workout? The answer is yes, absolutely! Several yoga styles are more dynamic and cardio-based, meaning you can really break a sweat. The more dynamic styles are usually the more advanced classes, and you’ll have to learn the basics before attempting these.

Getting started with yoga

Hatha is the best style for beginners; throughout these classes, you’ll learn the primary yoga sequences at a gentle pace. You’ll also learn the common breathing techniques which accompany the yoga postures. Depending on your level of fitness, and capability to pick up the moves, you should be ready for a more advanced class in about a month. Vinyasa classes are a little more up-tempo than Hatha classes; you may want to try one of these next. For your cardio fix, try out these four dynamic styles of yoga.

1. Ashtanga

Ashtanga yoga was created by Sri K.Pattabhi and T.Krishnamacharya, during the 20th century, in Mysore India. It’s a dynamic style that includes six different sequences. First, you learn the set sequences, and then you can work through these moves at a pace that suits you. An Ashtanga practice relies on a few essential principles. Breathing techniques are one of these principles, and you usually hold each pose for between six and eight breaths. Another critical principle is Drishti, which means ‘gaze points,’ referring to where you should focus your attention during each pose.

2. Bikram

Sometimes referred to as hot yoga, Bikram is practiced in a heated environment. Those who suffer from muscle aches and pains are well-advised to try out one of these classes. A Bikram class uses twenty-six postures, which are moved through at a fast pace. A few of these postures include half-moon, triangle pose, and cobra pose. The heated room means you’ll sweat more, increase the intensity, and boost your energy levels.

3. Power Yoga

Power Yoga was created during the 80s in America. This style doesn’t follow one sequence of postures, so expect different moves each time. The idea is that you quickly switch from one posture to the other, providing you with a great workout. Over time, you’ll build endurance, improve your strength, and burn calories. Power Yoga often uses lots of postures which you would practice in Vinyasa, yet they are performed at a more dynamic pace. Power Yoga classes are perfect for those who want to tone up and lose weight. You never know what you’re going to get with these classes, which makes for a real exciting practice!

4. Jivamukti

Jivamukti is a unique hybrid style of yoga; it was created by David life, an artist, and Sharon Gannon, a musician. This style focuses on music, meditation, and a high-energy practice. The postures are taken from Hatha, yet practiced at a faster pace. It’s such a unique style that it may not be easy to find a Jivamukti class. However, there are plenty of great videos on YouTube that can help you practice Jivamukti.

Practicing yoga at home

You might prefer to practice yoga at home as opposed to in a class. Currently, many gyms and yoga studios are closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic; however, you can still access live classes online. To help you practice at home, there are several yoga applications available. One example is the ‘Daily Yoga App.’ On this app, you will find hundreds of classes for all different levels, plus many meditation exercises. The great thing about this app is that there’s also a yoga community where you can chat about yoga with other practitioners. Here you’ll find all the tips and advice you’ll need.

Pocket Yoga is another handy app that is perfect for beginners. The app has a pose dictionary that explains each posture in great detail so you can make sure you’ve got the moves down! Pocket Yoga has speedy five-minute classes for your busy days, or one-hour classes when you’ve got a little more time to spend. To practice at home you just need the perfect yoga mat, and you’re good to go!