In the late ‘70s, yoga started to become popular in the western world. Today, it is a popular form of exercise and tool for health and wellbeing for many Australians.

The benefits of yoga

Yoga strengthens the body as a unit. Practised correctly, with attention to alignment, yoga confers joint stability just as weight-room strength training does.

The standing poses are especially good for strengthening the small stabilising muscles of the lower leg while stretching the hip flexors. And yoga will also increase your core strength, not just in poses that specifically target the core but also in standing and balance poses.

Yoga heightens wellbeing immensely. It teaches you to face intense situations without panicking. It also enables you to reach your physical and mental limit while maintaining your breath and encourages you to focus on your form. All these are invaluable skills for athletic endeavour, not to mention life in general.

Kundalini, Vinyasa, Asthanga and Hatha. When considering yoga styles the choice can be overwhelming. To help you through the decision making process body+soul has put together a rundown of the most common yoga styles so you can figure out what to expect and what's right for you.

Where to do yoga

Yoga classes are offered at gyms, health clubs, yoga studios, ashrams and wellbeing retreats across the country. Once you practice regularly, purchase a yoga mat and continue your practice at home.