Acquaint Yourself With 7 Different Styles of Yoga

The problem when you are starting out with yoga is trying to figure out which classes will suit you best. This is near impossible when you have very little idea and knowledge of what the different styles of yoga are, and what the main differences will be for you as an individual. Yoga is about finding what works best for you as you develop your relationship with your own body, so it is important to consider which style you settle for. It is this decision that will encourage you to continue your journey of self-discovery

I have made a list below of 7 different yoga styles with explanations that will give you a foundation to explore further and make your decision.  You will probably want to try out more than one style yourself to see which you enjoy most, and which benefits you the most. Hopefully this article will point you in the right direction though, to help you find a yoga class that you will love.

#1 Ashtanga

Based on the ancient yoga teachings, the Ashtanga style of yoga was made more popular when it travelled to the West, brought by Pattabhi Jois in the 1970s. This style of yoga takes on a rigorous approach, which includes a specific sequence of postures. It is similar to vinyasa yoga in that each movement you make is made i line with an inhale or an exhale. The difference with ashtanga though, is that it always uses the exact same poses in the exact same order. This means that your body and muscles can get used to the pattern, memorizing it so that your movements flow smooth and fast. It is usually considered quite a sweaty and physically demanding practice, so be prepared to get your heart rate up!

#2 Anusara

An American yogi called John Friend developed this style of yoga quite late in 1997. It will appeal to anyone who has a spiritual mindset, as it is based on a belief that we are all filled with an intrinsic goodness. The yoga practice aims to bring out this goodness by opening up students’ hearts using the physical aspects of the practice, so that students can experience grace and radiate positive energy out into the space around them. It is certainly a feel-good kind of yoga, and will attract anyone who wants to experience some kind of spiritual enlightenment or leave a class feeling like the sun is shining all around them!

#3 Bikram

About 30 years ago some bright spark (Bikram Choudhury) decided it would be a great idea to hold yoga classes in an artificially heated room, and indeed it was a great idea! Bikram yoga will work up a serious sweat so make sure there are shower facilities. You work your way through a series of 26 poses, always the same sequence. It is a very popular style of yoga, and has a wonderful sense of cleansing about it, because of all the impurities you sweat out of your pores.

#4 Hatha

This is more of a generic term than a yoga style, because it refers to any type of yoga that teaches physical postures. If you are considering attending a hatha yoga class, it generally means that you will receive a gentle introduction to the most basic postures, which makes it a great class for beginners. It is unlikely that you will leave a hatha class sweaty, but you should feel relaxed, and your body should feel well stretched.

#5 Iyengar

This is a meticulous style of yoga. Attention is directed towards finding the proper alignment for each pose, using a variety of props, including blocks, straps, blankets, chairs, and even bolsters and a rope wall! Your heart rate won’t get up much because there is not a lot of physical movement, but you will be surprised at how mentally and physically challenging it is to remain in the same position for extended lengths of time.

#6 Restorative

If you are looking for a way to relax and sooth your frayed nerves, then restorative yoga is your new best friend! Again, props like bolsters, blankets and blocks are used to prop students into passive poses so that the body can experience the benefits of a pose without putting any strenuous effort into it. Focus is on melting deeper into each pose and letting you muscles go. In fact a good restorative class is more restful and rejuvenating than a nap!

#7 Vinyasa

Vinyasa is the Sanskrit word for “flow” and this style of yoga involves a fluid movement that is constant throughout the class. It takes on the form of choreography where students transition from pose to pose in unison with the class. It can be quite intense depending on the level of students and the pace which is set, and you may think that this style could become tedious; but bear in mind that no two vinyasa classes are the same. They offer variety while testing your physical limits.

What are your favourite styles of yoga?

Share what inspired you about your favourite style of yoga, and why this style has suited you the best.