Yoga Types – Quick Guide to the Different Types of Yoga

There are many types of yoga styles around and reading about each one can be a little confusing. What you want to remember is that all yoga styles are based on the same yoga poses or postures.

Hatha Yoga is extremely popular and this style of yoga involves very gentle movements. Hatha yoga classes tend to be more of a moderate paced class. These types of classes are often recommended for beginners as you will be taught the basics of yoga.

Bikram Yoga is another name which you will come across a lot. Bikram Yoga is also known as hot yoga. Hot yoga is done in a classroom where the heat is between 95 to 100 degrees. The high temperatures help your muscles to relax. This is very good if you suffer from tight muscles. However it is not good if you have breathing problems or can’t handle the heat. I can’t, so I avoid this type of class.

You will sweat immensely during this class and this amount of sweating is said to help cleanse your body. Bikram yoga uses 26 poses but they are not all used in each class.

Power Yoga classes are based on a mixture of yoga styles, the Ashtanga style and the Vinyasa yoga style (link coming soon). Power yoga classes are aimed on strength and flexibility and are perfect for those who don’t want to get into the meditation side of yoga.

Power yoga has become very popular in North America and Europe and is seen as a great way to workout. This is the type of yoga you will see offered in many gyms today. Because power yoga is not set on any poses, each class can be totally different and unique. This will depend upon your individual yoga teacher.

Yin Yoga is a form of yoga that entails meditation. Each yoga pose is held for a number of minutes and this helps to stretch your connective tissues around your joints.

Ivengar Yoga uses props to help align your body and could be likened to Pilates. Each pose is also held for a long time and participants use yoga blankets, straps and blogs to keep their body aligned.

It is important to understand the different yoga styles, so you know which to choose. If you are purely looking for a great workout or to lose weight quickly, then the Power and Hot Yoga classes would be your best choice.

If you wish to learn how to use meditation to relieve stress then choose Yin Yoga or a form of yoga that uses these techniques.

All the best,
Patti

P.S. Don’t forget, we have yoga classes inside Beachbody on Demand waiting for you.