Everything You Need To Know About Styles Of Yoga & What You Might Like
Do you know which yoga you do or which yoga you want to do ? Hopefully this blog will help you decide whether you’re in more of a restorative yoga or a power yoga kind of mood, or anything in between.
1. Vinyasa yoga :
This one is also known as flow yoga. Vinyasa means “to place in a special way” , you’re just dynamically moving from one to the next. Vinyasa yoga incorporates movement and breathing techniques. It creates a flow of postures with controlled breathing replicating the flow of life. For example, Vinyasa yogis initiate the flow with a child’s pose and terminate the flow with the death pose (the savasana). The transitions into each posture reflect the movement through life. Meditation is a part of advanced vinyasa yoga practices, making the form more mindful. Vinyasa was adapted from Ashtanga yoga in the 1980s.It’s one of the more athletic types of yoga that helps you calm your mind, while also strengthening your body.
Who Might Like It: Anyone who wants more movement and less stillness from their yoga practice.Vinyasa yoga is a good choice for the ones who like high-intensity exercises. In addition, Vinyasa yoga is ideal for anxiety, depression, blood pressure and sleep.
2. Hatha yoga :
Hatha yoga derives its name from the Sanskrit words for sun and moon, and it’s designed to balance opposing forces. It’s often used as a catch-all term for the physical side of yoga, is more traditional in nature, or is billed as yoga for beginners.
Who Might Like It: Anyone looking for a balanced practice, or those in search of a gentler type of yoga.
3. Iyengar yoga :
This one is named after its founder, BKS Iyengar. It is an alignment-based yoga practice, wherein many props are used, such as chairs, benches and even walls. In an Iyengar class, students perform a variety of postures while controlling the breath and focuses on alignment as well as detailed and precise movements.
Who Might Like It: Someone who likes detailed instruction, anyone with physical limitations, or those in search of a more classical form of yoga.
4. Kundalini yoga :
Also known as the “yoga of awareness,” kundalini yoga includes repetitive poses. Kundalini yoga awakens the latent kundalini Shakti. The word ‘Kundalini’ is a Sanskrit term and roughly translates to life force energy. It is also known as ‘chi’ or ‘prana’ in the yoga community, tightly coiled at the spinal base. Therefore, this active energy moves up the spine and contributes to your spiritual well-being.
Movements begin with a chant, followed by pranayama, the act of controlled and precise breathing. Then comes kriya, a set of postures or mudras (specific hand positioning). Then one performs pranayama, chanting, and meditation.
Who Might Like It: Anyone in search of a physical, yet also spiritual practice, or those who like singing or chanting. Kundalini yoga is also suitable for stress, anxiety, depression and better cognitive function.
As Yogi Bhajan said, “Yoga is not going to make you great. Yoga is going to make you you!”
5. Ashtanga yoga :
In Sanskrit, ashtanga is translated as “Eight Limb path.” Ashtanga yoga has eight pillars: Principles, personal discipline, asana and postures, pranayama, withdrawal, concentration, meditation and salvation It consists of six series of specific poses taught in order. Each pose and each series is “given” to a student when their teacher decides they have mastered the previous one. This is a very physical, flow-style yoga with spiritual components. Each person memorizes the practice and moves at her own pace through the poses.
Who Might Like It: Anyone who likes routine or a more physical yet spiritual practice.
6. Bikram yoga :
Bikram Choudhury developed Bikram yoga. It is a form of hot yoga. These classes, like ashtanga classes, consist of a set series of poses performed in the same order, and the practice has strict rules. Each class is 90 minutes, with 26 postures and two breathing exercises, and the room must be 105° Fahrenheit with 40 percent humidity.
Who Might Like It: Anyone who likes to sweat, someone who wants a more physical practice, or those who like routine.
7. Yin yoga :
Yin yoga is a slower style of yoga in which poses are held for a minute and eventually up to five minutes or more. It is a type of yoga with roots in martial arts as well as yoga, and it’s designed to increase circulation in the joints and improve flexibility. The practice focuses on the hips, lower back, and thighs and uses props like bolsters, blankets, and blocks to let gravity do the work, helping to relax. While other forms of yoga focus on the major muscle groups, yin yoga targets the body’s connective tissues.Yin also aids recovery from hard workouts. Adding a deep stretch and holding class like yin can be extremely beneficial to a strong body.
Who Might Like It: Those who need to stretch out after a tough workout, or anyone interested in a slower-paced practice.
8. Restorative yoga :
Restorative yoga aims to relax completely into the various poses. This form of yoga uses props for body support. Some teachers might even lead you through yoga nidra — a guided meditation that allows you to hover blissfully between sleep and wake.
Who Might Like It: Anyone who needs to de-stress, those dealing with pain, and someone who struggles to relax.
9. Prenatal yoga :
As the name suggests, this is a yoga type for mothers-to-be and helps regulate the movements in the hips and the back, where most of the pregnancy related pains occur. This yoga involves breathing exercises that help during the delivery and ease the labour. However, one thing to know about prenatal yoga is that you should always take professional advice about which poses to practice. This one is good for both moms-to-be and also for mothers who have recently given birth and are trying to get back into shape. This yoga works with just the right intensity and gentleness that is required for a maternal body.
Who Might Like It: Moms-to-be and new moms who are easing back into exercise.
10. Anusara yoga :
Anusara is a modern-day version of hatha yoga, most similar to vinyasa in that it focuses on alignment, but with more emphasis on the mind-body-heart connection.
11. Jivamukti yoga :
This yoga style combines Vinyasa with Hindu teachings, focusing on our connection to the earth and our oneness with the universe. All poses adhere to the five tenets of Jivamukti philosophy: shastra, bhakti, ahimsā, nāda, and dhyana. At its core, this style emphasizes connection to Earth as a living being, so most Jivamukti devotees follow a vegetarian philosophy.
Let me know in comment section which yoga style would you like to start ?