Different Yoga Types - Part 1

There are lots of different styles of yoga being taught and practiced. Even though all the styles are based on the same physical poses or postures, each one has its own particular emphasis. Here’s a quick list of the most popular types of yoga so you can figure out which is right for you.

HATHA

Hatha is a very general term that can include many of the physical types of yoga. If a class is called a Hatha class, it’s most likely going to be slower-paced and easy. It will provide you with an introduction to the basic yoga poses.

VINYASA

Vinyasa is another general term that’s used to describe lots of different types of yoga. Vinyasa, which, by the way, means breath-synchronized movement, is a more vigorous yoga based on a series of poses called Sun Salutations, where your movement is matched to your breath. A Vinyasa class will usually start with some Sun Salutations to warm you up for the more intense stretching that’s done at the end of class.

ASHTANGA & POWER YOGA

Ashtanga, which means “eight limbs” in Sanskrit, is more of a faster-paced, intense yoga style. A series of certain poses is done, always in the same order. Ashtanga yoga is very demanding, physically, due to the constant changing from one pose to the next. In yoga-speak, this constant changing is called “flow.”
Ashtanga is really what is now called Power Yoga. If the class is called Power Yoga, it’ll be based on this flowing style of Ashtanga.

IYENGAR

Based on the teachings of the yogi B.K.S Iyengar, this yoga style is most involved with body alignment. In yoga, the word alignment means the exact way that your body should be positioned during a certain pose to obtain maximum benefits and avoid injury. Iyengar is usually the practice of holding different poses for a long period of time as opposed to flow.

Iyengar also practice encourages the use of equipment, such as yoga blankets, straps, and blocks. These are used to help put your body into alignment.

KUNDALINI

In Kundalini, the emphasis is on the breath in conjunction with movement, with the purpose of freeing the energy in your lower body and allowing it to move up. All asana yogas use the controlling of breath (or Prana, meaning energy). But in Kundalini, the effects of the breath on poses is essential. Kundalini uses quick, repetitive movements instead of poses held for a long time. The yoga teacher will often lead the class in chanting, too.

BIKRAM

Originated by Bikram Choudhury, this yoga style is generally referred to as Hot Yoga. It’s done in a hot room, heated anywhere from 95 to 100 degrees. This is said to allow a the loosening of tight muscles. It also, obviously, provides profuse sweating, for cleansing. The Bikram method is a series of 26 certain poses, but not all hot classes use all or any of them.