The Four Types Of Yoga

Yoga is one of the fastest growing fitness routines in the United States. More than twice as many people practice the ancient art of breathing and stretching today as just five years ago. But with so many different types of yoga to choose from, many newcomers can get confused on which one suits them.

Liz Vaccariello, executive editor of Fitness magazine, visits The Saturday Early Show with guidelines on choosing the right yoga class.

IYENGAR: Iyengar is known for its focus on proper alignment and attention to detail. Props such as blocks and blankets are used to help you deepen the pose. Poses are sometimes held for a minute or more to work on skeletal and muscular alignment.

Iyengar is for active people who want to increase their flexibility. It's also good for people who are recovering from muscle injuries.

KUNDALINI: The word kundalini means energy. This practice uses breath, poses and chanting to stimulate the nervous system and other organs to improve clarity and create a sense of calm. Much of a kundalini class is spent on the floor doing breathing exercises and chanting.

Kundalini is great for someone who is looking to relieve stress.

BIKRAM or "hot yoga" is done in a room that is heated to about 100 degrees. This warms up the muscles so students can stretch farther. The practice consists of a series of 26 poses that are held and then repeated.

Bikram is not for the faint of heart. It is very intense and some people find the heat uncomfortable. People sweat a lot which is why it's important to bring a bottle of water to class. That said, it is an unusual and challenging way to improve flexibility.

ASHTANGA or "power yoga" emphasizes stamina and strength. It is a very demanding practice with a variety of poses that force a person to develop focus and discipline.

Ashtanga is good for runners, cyclists and others looking to break a sweat while improving balance and flexibility.

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