Hatha yoga, iengar, vinyasa flow, yoga nidra, ashtanga, kundalini, yin and so many more! What is the difference and which one to choose? What if I simply wanna have a yoga class today?!
Allow me to introduce you to the different types of yoga so that you can easily find your way through and choose the right class for yourself 😊
Hatha yoga class - this is a class in which you will stay in each posture for a longer time. Traditionally you would have to do every position for no less than two minutes, stay in the posture and breathe. Nowadays, the 'two minutes rule' is not so strict, but you will still have to take more than just a few breaths in each of the postures. Some people consider this type of yoga to be easy, but for others it is on contrary simply unbearable to stay focused on one action for what they perceive to be so long. In both scenarios it is worth giving hatha yoga a try to see how you feel!
Vinyasa yoga - which literally means a flow or transition. This type of yoga class is more of an active one and might be a little bit hard for the very beginners in yoga. You really need to know each pose and the transitions between them in order to smoothly follow the teacher. Of course, just like in hatha, nowadays the vinyasa tradition is not that strict anymore and the teacher would probably wait for you or go a bit more slowly so that you can catch up with others. But you can definitely expect active ups-downs in this type of class compared to a hatha one. A hatha-vinyasa is a popular mix that is very good for beginners to get to know both styles.
Iengar yoga - a specific type of yoga often used in therapeutic means. It originates from a hatha tradition which means you can expect mostly static postures with peaceful transitions. The difference here is that for nearly every posture you would have to be using a block, a strap or a blanket. Even a chair, wall or both at the same time! K. Iengar who was the founder of this yoga had numerous health problems which did not allow him to conduct the regular hatha class. Which is why he came up with idea of using additional objects for doing postures. Do not consider it to be an easy one though!
Ashtanga yoga - this type of yoga comes from the roots of its tradition and until now has not followed any modifications. It is a specific type of flow in which you are expected to follow a continuous sequence of movements without any changes or breaks. You do each asana (posture) one by one with the same sequencing, always. Some postures are very difficult in ashtanga so that not even an experienced yogi/yogini is able to fully repeat a sequence. But this is also what makes it special. And when at some point you learn this flow by heart, it will take you to a different level of the yoga experience!
Yin yoga - also known as or compared to restorative yoga style. Here you will mostly stay here on grounded positions, doing long held postures and stretching your body - not by pushing it but by releasing it gradually and using the breath. This is a very good yoga option for after a difficult day or for those just wanting to calm down, relax and reinstall the connection within.
Yoga nidra - or "a yogic sleep" also known as guided meditation. This will be a yoga class without any physical activity - all you need to do is to lie down on the floor and then the teacher will guide you into a state of consciousness between sleeping and being awake. It is a meditation technique which is so far not as well known in the west and it is a very good option for those wanting to try something special in the "yogic world". It is also a good alternative for people who do not have the possibility of conducting physical types of yoga activity.
Kundalini - very much a spiritual yoga journey, rather than a physical one. People from the west often tend to say that this type of yoga is awkward or weird. Besides combined postures here, and breathing techniques, you will meditate and chant in between. All in order to unlock and activate certain energy centres within your body. Kundalini yoga originates from the hindu religion and is very much connected to vedantic culture. This is probably this is why it is not that widely known in the western world.
If you go to a yoga class at the gym or a resort, most probably your class will just be called "Yoga", without any specification of style. So normally you can expect a mixed kind of flow created by the teacher. However, if you go to a yoga studio you can definitely expect a large variety of different styles in their schedule. And this is where I hope my article can be useful to you!
Remember, that yoga is changing - new styles appear and old ones keep getting modified. So do not be shy to ask for an explanation if you see anything that you don't understand. Stay inspired and maybe one day you will create your own kind of flow 😊
P.S.: this is definitely not the full list of all yoga types, so stay tuned for the next article coming!
Check my teachers guide with an explanation of yoga styles and a little bit of history:
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