Types of yoga

Today many different styles of yoga are being taught and practiced throughout the world.



Even though all of them are based on the same physical poses (called asanas), each style has a distinct accent. Given below is a nippy guide to the most popular Yoga styles. It will help you figure out your needs and, accordingly, decide which one is right for you.

Ashtanga & Power Yoga In Sanskrit, Ashtanga means 8 limbs.



This is a fast-paced, intense Yoga style, in which a set series of poses is performed, always in the same order. Ashtanga is also the inspiration for what is often referred to as Power Yoga. If a class is described as Ashtanga Yoga, it is sure be a flowing style.

Bikram Yoga is founded by Bikram Choudhury.



His style consists of a set series of 26 poses and is also called Hot Yoga, since it is practiced in a 95-100 degree room. This facilitates relaxing of tight muscles together with copious amounts of sweating, thought to be cleansing.

Hatha Yoga is a very general term for all forms of physical Yoga. Typically, a Hatha Yoga class is slow-paced and gentle. It is said to provide a good introduction to the basic yoga asanas.

Iyengar Yoga is based on the teachings of Yogacharya B.K.S Iyengar. His style is more concerned with bodily alignment. Iyengar Yoga normally emphasizes staying in an asana for long periods as against proceeding rapidly from one to another.

In Kundalini Yoga more stress is laid on the Pranayama (breathing techniques) together with physical movement. The intention is to free the energy in one’s lower body and let it to proceed upwards. Kundalini also employs quick, recurring movements rather than staying in one pose for long.

Vinyasa Yoga means breath-synchronized movement and is a more dynamic style based on the performance of a series of asanas in which movement is synchronized with to breathing.