Each style is a little different from the others, and you’ll find variations depending on the teacher. That said, trying several styles and teachers before choosing your favorite will enhance your overall yoga experience and push you out of your comfort zone.
Curious to know more about each type of yoga? This guide will help you understand the basics before you jump into a class.
The benefits of yoga
Yoga is a great way to sweat and refocus, whether you’re a novice or a long-time practitioner. What’s more, yoga has considerable health benefits, which you can derive from a daily practice.
8 Types of Yoga to Try
1. Hatha Yoga
The Sanskrit word “hatha” is a generic term for all the physical postures of yoga. In the West, hatha yoga simply refers to all other styles of yoga (ashtanga, Iyengar, etc.) that rely on physical practice. However, there are other branches of yoga, such as kriya, raja and karma yoga, which are distinct from the physical practice of yoga. Physical yoga is the most popular and comes in many styles.
2. Vinyasa Yoga
Vinyasa means “to place in a special way” and, in this case, yoga postures. Vinyasa yoga is often considered the most athletic style of yoga and was adapted from Ashtanga yoga in the 1980s. Many types of yoga can also be considered “vinyasa flows”, such as ashtanga, power yoga and prana.
3. Kundalini Yoga
The practice of kundalini yoga is both spiritual and physical. This style involves releasing the kundalini energy in the body, which may be trapped or coiled in the lower spine.
4. Yin Yoga
Yin yoga is a slow-paced style of yoga, with seated postures held for long periods. Yin yoga can also be a meditative practice that helps you find inner peace.
5. Bikram Yoga
Bikram yoga is named after Bikram Choudhury and consists of a series of fixed postures performed in a sauna-like room, usually set at 105 degrees and 40% humidity. Bikram Choudhury was prosecuted for sexual assault and harassment in the United States and fled to Mexico in 2017.
6. Restorative Yoga
Restorative yoga helps you unwind after a long day and relax your mind. This style focuses primarily on relaxing the body. Restorative yoga also helps to cleanse and free the mind.
7. Anusara Yoga
Anusara is a modern version of hatha yoga, very similar to vinyasa in that it focuses on alignment, but with greater emphasis on the link between mind, body and heart. It was founded by John Friend, who created a unique system called “Universal Principles of Alignment”. He resigned in 2012 following accusations of sexual misconduct and financial mismanagement. Friend has since partnered with Desi and Micah Springer to teach the Bowspring Method.
7. Jivamukti Yoga
Jivamukti was founded in 1984 by Sharon Ganon and David Life. Jivamukti offers mainly vinyasa-flow style classes steeped in Hindu spiritual teachings. This style emphasizes connection with the Earth as a living being, and most Jivamukti followers therefore follow a vegetarian philosophy.
Conclusion:
Yoga brings a host of benefits, whatever style you adopt. And with such a variety of options, there really is a yoga class for everyone. Whether it’s yin, for decompressing, or vinyasa, for exercising, each style has its own benefits, which is why this age-old tradition still exists today.