Yoga Styles

There are many yoga styles out there and it could get confusing so allow me to quickly explain some of the more common classes you may have heard of or seen at a yoga studio:

Ashtanga- This style of yoga is composed of six established sequences (primary series, second series, third series, etc.…) These sequences are practiced in order so once you master the first, you move on to the next series. Ashtanga is a faster paced yoga practice that focuses extensively on breath work. I started my yoga journey practicing Ashtanga every Wednesday night so I will always have a soft spot for it.

Bikram- This is done in a sauna-like room at 105 degrees and 40 percent humidity. It is a series of 26 basic yoga postures performed twice. This is an extremely popular class among the younger practitioners. However, I am not a big fan of it myself as I do not like humidity.

Hatha- This is a generic term that refers to any type of yoga that teaches physical postures. Nearly every type of yoga class taught in the U.S. could be categorized as Hatha. In this class, you will probably get an introduction to the most basic yoga postures and breathing techniques.

Iyengar- This type of yoga uses many props (blocks, straps, bolsters, blankets, etc.) in order to get into proper alignment in poses. It is more about holding a posture than getting your heart rate up.

Prenatal- This is yoga designed especially for expectant mothers. The main goal of prenatal yoga is to keep your muscles strong throughout your pregnancy so you have the ability to recover after birth. Most of the postures are modified for comfort.

Restorative- Think relaxation yoga…. You can spend as long as twenty minutes in a single pose! Props are used most of the time as well as aromatherapy in order to promote total relaxation.

Vinyasa / Power- This is pretty much the opposite of restorative yoga. Descended from Ashtanga, this style of yoga is much more athletic. The poses vary unlike Ashtanga however.

Yin- This is another relaxation type of yoga. Yin works to lengthen the connective tissues. In addition, the poses are much more passive letting gravity do most of the work. This is another one of my favorite styles of yoga especially on a stressful day.

Now that you have the information, go ahead and try some of the different classes!