New Year, New Yoga Class: An Overview Of The Different Types Of Yoga

Doing more exercise and making healthy lifestyle choices is always near the top of our New Year resolution lists. So it will come as no surprise to yoga regulars to see lots of new faces in their yoga classes come January.

Looking back at when I first started attending yoga classes I remember I wasn’t quite sure what I was getting myself into. Most of the classes were classified by level instead of the type of yoga being taught so you weren’t sure whether you were going to a Hatha Yoga class or a Kundalini Yoga class and to be honest way back then I probably wouldn’t have even known the difference!

Things have changed a lot since then thankfully but now there are so many different styles of yoga classes on offer, how do you find a yoga class that is right for you?

Most yoga centres have a summary of the type of classes on offer but for those of you who are completely new to the practice I thought it might be helpful to give you a brief overview of the various types of yoga classes available in most yoga centres today.

Hatha

Hatha yoga is a gentle, slow paced form of yoga. It is perfect for beginners as it provides a sound introduction to the basic yoga poses.

Vinyasa

Also known as flow yoga Vinyasa involves a series of poses in which movement is matched to breath. As the movement is flowing there aren’t many breaks between the poses so you get a good cardio workout too.

Ashtanga

Ashtanga is an energetic form of yoga, involving fast paced, continuous movement and is often referred to as Power Yoga.

Iyengar

Based on the teachings of B.K.S. Iyengar this practice focuses on alignment and involves holding poses for longer periods of time. It is a form of flow yoga and involves the use of props.

Bikram Yoga

More commonly referred to as Hot Yoga, Bikram yoga was pioneered by Bikram Choudhury. Practiced in a very hot room it loosens the muscles and induces sweating which is thought to be cleansing.

Kundalini

Based on the teachings of Yogi Bhajan, Kundalini yoga focuses on breath with movement and explores the effects of the breath (prana) on each posture.

Anusura

Anusura is based on the tantric philosophy of intrinsic goodness. Founded by John Friend in 1997 it is not as common as the other forms of yoga mentioned here but Anusura yoga classes are making their way to most yoga centres.

Restorative

Restorative yoga uses a variety of props to support the body during practice enabling the body to relax into the poses. The poses are held to encourage stretching. A great form of yoga if you spend a lot of time in the gym as the stretching helps you loosen the muscles and relieve tension in the body.

Scaravelli

Pioneered by Vanda Scaravelli, Scaravelli yoga focuses on developing core strength through releasing tension and creating length in the spine.

Jivamukhti

Jivamukti yoga is a style of yoga created by David Life and Sharon Garron in 1984. It is a physically demanding and spiritual practice that includes yogic breathing, chanting and meditation.

AcroYoga

Acroyoga is a partner practice that blends acrobatics and yoga. The ‘base’ is the person at the bottom who supports the ‘flyer’. There is a great emphasis on strength and balance and acroyoga also incorporates elements of dance into the practice.

I’ve always found that it helps to try out different forms of yoga so you can assess which yoga practice is right for you. When you try different classes it also gives you the opportunity to be taught by different teachers. Although all teachers teach yoga they all bring their own individuality and personality to their style of teaching.