Both Vinyasa and Hatha yoga help you relax and work on overall strength and flexibility. There is a vast difference between both the forms of yoga including posture and techniques. On the one hand, Hatha Yoga is beneficial for those looking to purify their mind and prior to beginning meditation. Vinyasa Yoga is fast-paced and places much focus on the asanas itself.
In the western nations, Vinyasa Yoga has gained more popularity owing to aggressive marketing. It is a style that most people are familiar with as it helps tone the muscles and improve muscle strength.
Let us first understand as to what each of these yoga styles actually is.
What is Hatha Yoga?
The word Hatha means forceful. It works best to align the musculoskeletal structure as well as balance the solar and lunar energies in the body.
One thing you should understand when finding out what is hatha yoga is its easier to practice. Hatha Yoga is much slower, and that makes it easier for you to keep up with the instructions of the yoga teacher. Each yoga asana practiced in Hatha Yoga is held for multiple breaths.
Hatha Yoga helps increase your concentration and opens the energy centers of the body, known as Nadis. The Nadis are responsible for healing the body and highly beneficial for increasing the overall spiritual awareness when opened properly.
If you are practicing Hatha Yoga then inculcating different breathing techniques would come easily to you during the session. You can enhance the practice of Hatha Yoga by training under an experienced yoga guru.
Now, let us understand a bit in-depth about Vinyasa Yoga.
What is Vinyasa Yoga?
Vinyasa Yoga is both a physically and mentally demanding form of yoga. You have to change the poses quickly during the practice and possess complete knowledge of each asana. Vinyasa Yoga flow is highly beneficial for increasing the blood flow and working on the cardiovascular system to create more heat.
If you really want to know what is vinyasa yoga then understand it is a constant and rhythmic flow of energy that provides a major confidence boost when you are feeling a bit low. Vinyasa Yoga poses helps cleanse the internal body and also thin the blood which makes for a healthier body.
Now that we are aware of how both types of yoga help you remain healthy and fit, it is time we understand what makes one form of yoga different from another.
Hatha vs Vinyasa Yoga
You should know that both forms of yoga offer a variety of benefits. Let us first understand the difference of hatha vs vinyasa yoga.
1. Hatha is Slower
A major difference you notice when attending Hatha or Vinyasa yoga classes is the difference in speed. Vinyasa on one hand is a bit fast while Hatha Yoga is slower in pace. Hatha Yoga gives you the opportunity to focus on breathing and channel the energy that is beneficial for the body and mind.
2. Hatha Yoga is Best for Beginners
When it comes to finding a major difference in the hatha vs vinyasa yoga debate then the latter is best suited for those starting out a yoga practice. You might not know but even an experienced yogi keeps up their practice of Hatha Yoga.
The slow speed of Hatha Yoga makes it best for beginners to get in a relaxed state and master the basic yoga poses.
3. Vinyasa Offers an Intense Workout
Both Vinyasa and Hatha Yoga are practiced for different reasons and end goals in mind. With Hatha Yoga it is all about practicing mindfulness and aligning mind, body, and spirit. Vinyasa is more about intense body workout. You need to transition from one pose to another and that increases your body heat, break a sweat, and build muscle at the same time.
The Conclusion
Hatha and Vinyasa yoga both offer different benefits when it comes to maintaining good physical and mental health. However, knowing the difference between hatha vs vinyasa yoga would help you choose the best yoga style to practice for maximum benefit.
