There is an increasing number of minority owned yoga studios, practitioners as well as small businesses that sell accessories or that hold classes. Find more details below on the types of yoga that are offered, locations of Black, Latino or other minority studios and classes near you or online, and find how you can learn from, a support, a minority owned business. As to date, the vast majority of Yoga businesses are owned by, and the classes are attended by, the white community, but those trends are changing.
What are the Different Types of Yoga Offered at Minority Owned Studios?
Yoga is an umbrella term that refers to any physical or mental exercise that involves deep breathing. It can be done at home, in a studio, online, outside, or really anywhere. It’s a broad group of practices rooted in Hindu and Buddhist traditions that have migrated to the West. Yoga can be any routine that promotes physical, emotional, and spiritual healing.
According to the National Institutes of Health, 9.5 percent of U.S. adults, about 21 million people, regularly practice yoga. A Yoga Journal study indicated that over 80% of those individuals who practice Yoga or attend classes are white; the number of people who practice Yoga in the colored community is minimal. But there are more minorities who are starting to participate, with many black business owners, Latinos, and Asians (among others) opening studious or holding online sessions.
Thinking of yoga usually evokes images of complex, bendy poses called asanas. However, there are many different types of yoga with varying levels of difficulty. Feeling confused by the plethora of Sanskrit names? Use the following easy-to-understand outline as a cheat sheet to choose from the types of yoga.
Find Minority, Black, Veteran Owned Yoga Businesses or Studios
An increasing number of locations are being open by minorities and women of all colors. While the services as well as type of yoga offered at locations near you may very, some of the small businesses or practitioners include the following. Also note that many of these small minority and female owned Yoga studios and practitioners near you also offer online sessions or they have content on streaming services such as Youtube. Or find additional Yoga businesses or studios owned by minorities. There are also other health companies, including gyms, that may offer some classes, such as Power Yoga.
Honest Soul is a female, veteran Owned Yoga Studio. A focus is on restorative as well as Flow classes. There are all sorts of yoga classes offered, from beginners to more advanced. Yoga is very beneficial in helping veterans and former service members who may be suffering from PTSD.
Ebony Yoga celebrates bodies of color, whether Black, Brown, or White. The black women founded company offers many styles and classes, with even Egyptian Yoga offered.
Satori Yoga offers many services, including Yin Yoga, Vinyasa, Meditation, Iyengar Restorative Yoga. The Asian owned small business also offers many affordable, online Yoga sessions and wellness classes.
Overview of the Five Kinds of Yoga Practice
In the United States, it’s common for people to mistakenly believe that yoga is synonymous with physical exercise. Bodily practice, or hatha yoga, is just one of five types of yoga that may be offered by a minority or female owned studio. Hatha yoga is concerned with using asanas and focused breathing. Bodily practice seeks to develop a lean, flexible form for perfect physical health. It is great for PTSD as well, and veteran owned yoga studious Such as Honest Soul preach it.
The numerous benefits of hatha yoga include increased stamina, better posture, reduced chronic pain, and more energy. As you know, energy is great to have when running or starting a business. However, let’s dig deeper to understand the four other branches of the yoga tree. Studious, whether black owned, Asian, Latina, or Yoga practitioners that focus on Veterans and PTSD may offer one or more branches and styles.
1. Raja – Raja translates to English as “monarch” from Sanskrit. Raja focuses on meditation and inner reflection. Making the self king, this path promotes self-control, confidence, and courage through relaxed contemplation. Although it’s frequently performed in monasteries, it starting to being implemented in other Yoga practices, including veteran and minority owned businesses. Anyone can practice the ethical standards of Raja, including concentration and sensory withdrawal.
2. Bhakti – Personified by Mahatma Gandhi, Bhakti is the yogic path of spiritual devotion to God, life, and love. It’s a Hindu practice that focuses on helping people achieve moksha, or liberation, from the cycle of death and reincarnation called samsara. Whether they’re praying or running everyday errands, Bhakti yogis express devotion in every moment. Bhakti also entails supreme tolerance for all people encountered.
3. Karma – Karma is referred to as the “yoga of action.” Karma is another of the spiritual types of yoga where practitioners relinquish selfishness by directing energy toward community service, which is great for the minority community. Karma believes that present circumstances are caused by past actions. Ergo, it’s focused on performing good deeds to make one’s destiny positive. Perfected by Mother Teresa, Karma involves altruistic activities without personal reward.
4. Jnana – Promoted by philosopher Adi Shankara, Jnana is the last of the five types of yoga. It emphasizes self-realization through knowledge. It’s generally considered the “yoga of the mind.” Jnana involves developing the intellect with scholarly study of scriptural doctrines and texts. Jnana opens the inquisitive mind to wisdom for spiritual well-being. Jnana yoga has been epitomized by Benedictine monks and Jesuit priests.
Guide to Major Styles of Hatha Yoga
All hatha yoga types share the ultimate goal of training the body, mind, and spirit together. Practicing hatha yoga makes you more self-aware, disciplined, and concentrated, which are all great skills to have for any entrepreneur or small business owner.
It’s about more than getting stronger and more flexible muscles. Types of hatha yoga strive to develop control of your life and inner peace. Small business owners, no matter their race gender or ethnicity, often use the practice to distress and clear their head. Hatha yoga releases endorphins to improve your mood and treat depression or anxiety too. Veteran owned yoga studious can offer this to help with PTSD. Let’s look at seven major kinds of hatha yoga you should consider adding to your fitness routine. Look into taking them at a minority owned Yoga studio or practioner.
Anusara – Anusara is a modern hatha yoga that emphasizes “heart-opening” postures. Integrating over 250 poses, Anusara builds upon universal principles of alignment. It aims to maximize your body’s blood flow and release your inner goodness. Like other types of yoga, Anusara includes meditation to make your heart peaceful and joyous.
Bikram – Bikram is a hot yoga system where studios are artificially heated to 95-108 degrees Fahrenheit. You can find a veteran, women, or minority owned Bikram practitioner on our website as well. Bikram seeks to rejuvenate your body and release toxins through your sweat. Each Bikram yoga class applies the same dialogue, 26 poses, and two breathing exercises. Hydration is key when following the set sequence from Pranayama through Kapalabhati.
Vinyasa – Vinyasa is a widely practiced yoga type that’ll keep you moving from asana to asana for fluidity. Often set to music, Vinyasa takes a no-rules approach to mix up sequences. It involves smooth, continuous movements after each exhale. Power yoga is a popular Vinyasa example that offers heart-pumping cardio exercise at a challenging pace. It can be found at minority owned yoga studious, and even some gyms offer power yoga.
Ashtanga – Ashtanga is a modern, vigorous style of yoga that means “eight limbs.” Ashtanga is one of the yoga types that focuses on synchronizing breath to a progressive set of heat-inducing postures. Practiced on a yoga mat, Ashtanga uses a brisk sequence of distinctive poses similar to Vinyasa. It’s effective at developing core strength and toning muscles.
Iyengar – Iyengar is a much slower, more methodical practice that is found in many female or minority owned studios – It is more methodical practice than the last two yoga types. Iyengar yoga focuses on proper alignment and posture rather than speed. This hatha yoga form emphasizes precision in more than 200 poses. Props like belts and blocks are frequently used to perform Iyengar asanas perfectly. Although your heart won’t be racing, Iyengar builds endurance, focus, concentration, and balance.
Restorative – Restorative yoga is a healing-based hatha style where you’ll hold simpler asanas for prolonged periods. Restorative yoga relaxes the mind and body to find a meditative state. You’ll use supportive props to hold around six or seven poses like for five minutes apiece. More black practitioners are forming support groups and sharing the practice of restorative Yoga. Restorative yoga soothes stress and promotes introspection for enhanced mental health.
Kundalini – Kundalini is frequently called the “yoga of awareness.” Influenced by Shaktism, Kundalini yoga emphasizes spiritual enlightenment. It awakens the spine’s primal energy source. Kundalini yoga classes held at minority or women owned businesses uniquely integrate repetitive physical poses called kriyas. Get ready for intense breathing exercises, chants, and meditation too.
Different Types of Yoga for all Ethnicities, Including Black or Latino Community
Overall, the several types of yoga offered by minorities, Asian, women of color or types focused on Veterans and PTSD are dramatically different. A growing number of people who are involved in health and wellness are practicing Yoga, and there are bound to be practitioners or studious near you. There are businesses being started by an increasing number of individuals from the Black, Latino, veteran, and minority communities. And it is not just women – more men are practicing Yoga too!
Some types are intended for calming comfort and relaxation. Others are meant to test your physical fitness and athleticism. If you’re a novice, take a few different yoga classes. Take them at studios that are owned by small Black or minority owned businesses Don’t be afraid to experiment and try something new. Good yoga teachers, no matter their race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation, can help you explore the different types of yoga and find your ideal match.
By Jon McNamara
