3 Physical & Intellectually Stimulating Yoga Types To Try This Autumn

By Harriet of your 52 diet

With all the beautiful shades of red, orange and yellow, autumn is one of the most visually striking times of the year. Yogis often flow with the rhythms of nature, so when the seasons change there’s no better time to mix and match styles and try something out of your comfort zone.

These three yoga styles are a little more intellectually stimulating than most, and are commonly performed in the autumn and winter when something a little more physically challenging is needed.

Jivamukti

Jivamuki Yoga was co-founded in New York by David Life and Sharon Gannon in 1984. Unlike other styles, it emphasises the importance of animal rights, veganism and environmentalism, and can be quite physical – often incorporating elements of Vinyasa Yoga.

There are five central tenants in the Jivamuki method: scripture, devotion, non-harming, music, and meditation. Each class is also categorised into different types in order to suit various lifestyles. For example, the Spiritual Warrior classes are designed for busy people, while the Open classes focus on a particular theme named the “focus of the month”, which is penned by Gannon.

Jivamuki Yoga has an international following which has been popularised in recent years by celebrities. According to Jivamuki Yoga London, the asana sequences are constantly changing in order to keep participants interested. This makes it an excellent style of choice if you already have experience, but are looking for a new challenge.

Budokon

Budokon Yoga is a unique blend of yoga, meditation and martial arts. Meaning “way of the spiritual warrior” in Japanese, Budokon is the perfect compliment to would-be fighters. Unlike most conventional styles of yoga is promotes agility and fluidity using animal postures and ancient combat techniques.

Martial artists train themselves to react on impulse; therefore, the theme of Budokon is “instinct”. Warm ups often revolve around throwing punches, blocks and kicks so the body will reach the maximum level of flexibility before training begins. Sessions often end with an hour long meditation.

If you’re looking for a style that’s a little more demanding than most, Budokon certainly provides a tough workout. In fact, the average session will burn up to 900 calories, which is 300 more than one hour of spinning!

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Bikram

Bikram Yoga takes place in a 40 degree centigrade heated room at 40% humidity. Each session runs for 90 minutes and consist of the same 26 postures. Teachers are taught using the same standardised dialogue; however, they are always encouraged to develop their own style so their classes don’t become mundane.

Each Bikram Yoga session starts with a series of standing postures and forward and back bends. The Kapalabhati breathing technique is used throughout each pose. The heat and humidity in which Bikram yoga sessions are conducted is often the topic of controversy; therefore, practitioners are encouraged to gain approval from a doctor in advance.

Bikram Yoga sessions can be quite intense and challenging; however, when it’s cold, wet and windy it’s certainly a nice way to warm up and get a little exercise.

Yoga will leave you feeling calm, vibrant and alive. Try to start your day with an hour-long session before work, or attend an evening class to learn the ropes. Don’t be afraid to get creative and mix and match styles to create something unique to you. After all, yoga is all about opening your mind and expressing yourself.

About Harriet

Harriet is a keen blogger and recently launched Your 52 diet having tried and succeeded with this fantastic and revolutionary diet. Your 52 diet is dedicated to all forms of dieting so long as it is promotes a healthy and balanced lifestyle.