Hatha Yoga has long been considered the most practiced type of Yoga performed in the United States. It is the style that is most recommended to beginners. It is generally a very gentle practice of smooth and calculated poses. These poses are also known as asanas. Hatha Yoga is recommended if you want to learn how to stretch and slowly work your muscles. It helps get your body into the right balance and alignment. Hatha also helps relieve stress and high blood pressure.



Hot Yoga is a series of yoga poses done in a heated room. It is created by Bikram Choudhury who is also known as a living expert of Yoga. Choudhury's version of yoga is composed of a set sequence of 26 yoga positions including two Pranayama exercises. Each is executed two times in a single session that generally lasts for 90 minutes. The room is usually maintained at a temperature of 95-100 degrees.

The usual lightweight clothing, anti-sweat athletic wear that dries quickly will do just great. For men its light tees with shorts and women can wear a tank top or sports bra with shorts or lightweight pilates memphis yoga-style pants.

Bikram yoga is also referred to as hot yoga. This type of yoga is practiced in a room where the temperature is increased to make the room very very warm. The thought is that this warmth is good for muscle flexibility and stretching your body tissue, which should result in a much better session.

While most people are familiar with the basic principles of Yoga, many aren't sure how they should prepare and what a typical class entails. To give you some peace of mind before your first class, here are some tips on what you can expect as well as some common yoga misconceptions.

Moves and bodily posture movements differ greatly so choosing which class is for you could prove to be a problem. Do a little research or talk to a guru in the field of hot yoga who can advise you on what is best for your needs, whether it is a health matter, slim down or just to claim peace of mind.

But a few months later, a friend of mine talked me into going to another Yoga class with her. Being the Yoga expert that she was, she had her own mat; and she even had an extra for me. I scoffed at her when she asked if I wanted her to bring it for me. I think my response was something like "I don't need your fancy mat". But being the girl she is, she brought it for me anyway. And that was when Yoga became a whole new ball game for me.