Home Health and Fitness WELCOME TO YOUR NEW YOGA WORKOUT!

WELCOME TO YOUR NEW YOGA WORKOUT!

With a bewildering array of disciplines on offer, OK! takes a look at the options

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She may be smitten with Prince Harry, but it seems Suits star Meghan Markle’s first love will always be yoga. Often snapped on her way to classes with a rolled-up mat under her arm, the self-confessed yoga bunny – whose mum is a yoga instructor – adores ‘the boundless power that yoga can have on our psyche and overall well-being’.

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After meeting her teacher Duncan Parviainen, Meghan confessed: ‘Call it a yoga crush at the highest level of om, if you will. And perhaps why it resonated with me, above other moments of platonic amour, is because meeting Duncan made me fall in love not just with him, but with my yoga practice as well.’

Yoga is important to Meghan, 35, on both a mental and physical level and that’s why she insists on taking weekly classes, despite sometimes being picked up for filming work at 4.15am. She explains the attraction: ‘I’ll do yoga a couple of times a week with Duncan. He is so positive and in my industry it’s so important to surround yourself with people who are really optimistic.’

Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden, 46, credits her toned tummy to her kundalini yoga practice. She says: ‘I used to be a big fan of Spanx but ditched them when I started yoga, which has changed my shape.’

Devotees extol the numerous benefits of yoga, which include increased flexibility, improved stamina and better mental focus, but which type of yoga is best for you? We caught up with top yoga teacher and co-founder of Yogi2Me (www.yogi2me.com) Sarah Drai to get her verdict…

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Power Yoga
BEST FOR… BUILDING STRENGTH
WHAT IS IT? Power yoga is more of a physical exercise than a spiritual practice and moves at a faster pace. It draws inspiration from Ashtanga yoga, but there is more emphasis on fitness.
CELEBRITY FANS: Lady Gaga is often snapped in power yoga poses, and David and Victoria Beckham have reportedly taken power yoga classes together.
SARAH SAYS: ‘Power yoga is great for strength training and all-round physical health. A class will make you sweat and it will also leave you feeling energised for the rest of your day. This variety of yoga is suitable for everyone with a healthy and able body, but if you are injured, it should be avoided!’

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Vinyasa Yoga
BEST FOR… IMPROVING MENTAL FOCUS
WHAT IS IT? Vinyasa yoga is one of the most popular forms of yoga. During a class, students will flow from one asana (pose) to the next, while paying close attention to their breathing.
CELEBRITY FAN: Meghan Markle started classes very young, but then her mother is a yoga teacher! She says: ‘Yoga is my thing. My mom is a yoga instructor, and I started doing mommy-and-me yoga with her when I was seven.’
SARAH SAYS: ‘Vinyasa means “moving into a special place in a special way”. The goal is to align breath and movement to reach an active meditative state or Vinyasa Krama. The physical aspects of this practice help to energise the body, strengthen the muscles and increase flexibility, and mentally it can help to focus the mind and encourage clarity.’

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Yin Yoga
BEST FOR… RELIEVING STRESS
WHAT IS IT? Yin yoga has a heavy focus on holding seated postures in order to strengthen and improve the muscles in this area. The poses are generally held for between one and ten minutes, and will provide both a physical and an emotional feeling of release.
CELEBRITY FAN: Jessica Alba.
SARAH SAYS: ‘Yin yoga is suitable for everyone, and those who engage in high-intensity sports, or those who experience high levels of stress during their day, can find relief for the body and mind through this practice. Reduced tension in the joints, as well as improved flexibility, are noticeable results of yin yoga.’

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Kundalini Yoga
BEST FOR… FEELING MORE SPIRITUAL
WHAT IS IT? Anyone can practise kundalini yoga. It is not particularly difficult, physically speaking, but it can be challenging, spiritually, if you have no experience of yoga.
CELEBRITY FANS: Michelle Williams, Russell Brand and Amanda Holden, who gushed: ‘My body has become strong and toned since I’ve been doing kundalini yoga every day, and any excess body fat has disappeared.’
SARAH SAYS: ‘Kundalini yoga combines physical movements with breathing techniques, meditation and chanting. When you practise kundalini yoga you’ll work towards developing a higher consciousness, and improving your physical energy. You will notice that you are better equipped to focus your mind and also to strengthen your will power.’

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Ashtanga Yoga
BEST FOR… HONING BREATHING TECHNIQUES
WHAT IS IT? Ashtanga yoga comprises a series of set poses. This type of yoga should combine physically demanding moves with the synchronisation of the breath.
CELEBRITY FANS: Madonna is a fan of the practice and Sting reveals it helps him stay young, saying: ‘I can now do things with my body that I wouldn’t even have thought possible when I was a teenager.’
SARAH SAYS: ‘Ashtanga yoga is especially beneficial for muscle growth and improving breathing techniques. It can be quite challenging and rigorous. This is because you will only move to the next posture once you have mastered the previous one. For this reason, it is more suited to those who have already mastered the basics of yoga.’

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Acroyoga
BEST FOR… IMPROVING BALANCE
WHAT IS IT? AcroYoga is a combination of yoga, acrobatics and healing. It is practised in pairs, with one partner lifting and supporting the other as the asanas
are held.
CELEBRITY FANS: Gisele Bundchen, Lena Dunham and Gwyneth Paltrow.
SARAH SAYS: ‘AcroYoga offers lots of beginner exercises you can practise with a partner, and there is something for everyone, regardless of skill level. However, the more advanced poses require more balance and co-ordination. It is great for strength training and general fitness.’

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Iyengar Yoga
BEST FOR… IMPROVING CO-ORDINATION
WHAT IS IT? Iyengar yoga is a type of hatha yoga that concentrates on the attention to detail of the poses and controlling your breath.
CELEBRITY FAN: Nigella Lawson says: ‘I am doing a rather slow form of yoga called Iyengar. As you get on in life, you value feeling well as opposed to looking well. Yoga certainly makes you feel great.’
SARAH SAYS: ‘Iyengar yoga is a variety of hatha yoga that focuses on the precision of the asanas and being able to control your breathing. You will notice that your co-ordination, strength and stability improve. It is perfect for beginners.’

WITH THANKS TO SARAH DRAI, CO-FOUNDER OF YOGI2ME. BOOK AN EXPERIENCED YOGA TEACHER TO YOUR DOOR AND START YOUR YOGA JOURNEY WITH THE EXPERTS BEHIND YOGI2ME APP. AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD FROM THE APP STORE NOW.

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FEATURE: OK! HEALTH EDITOR YASMINE GRIFFITHS
PHOTOGRAPHS: GETTY, SHUTTERSTOCK


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