Discovering the Yoga Types Right for You
Defining Yoga Types
Some practitioners and teachers of yoga may cringe at the terms "yoga types" or "yoga styles" for being too nonspecific, for focusing on the athletic side of the practice and not so much on the spiritual, or for being downright "wrong" in their eyes. You may wish to think of the types described here as varying disciplines, schools, philosophies, traditions, or focuses.
No matter the word, the goal of this article is not to offend but to inform potential and/or already practicing students on which types may suit their individual lifestyle, age, and body-type most. This is not to say that there is only one style of yoga for each person; indeed, many teachers are students of a variety of types and therefore integrate and blend several types into their yoga classes.
It can be both enlightening and a lot of fun to try out different types to find the one that's right for you, but please be mindful of what is an appropriate and healthy level of activity for you and your body. Always consult a physician before beginning any new exercise program.
Defining Hatha Yoga
Many health studios, gyms, and community centers offer what they call hatha yoga classes. However, hatha yoga is a rather broad term that consists of many different types that each focus on a different facet of yoga. Although most every hatha yoga class is based on the same fundamental yoga poses, the individual types can be quite different in their approaches and physical exertion levels.
The following descriptions are meant to be used as a basic primer for beginning or limited-experience students who are either interested in starting a yoga program or trying out new and different types to better suit their lifestyle, age, and body type.
The recommendations are not meant to exclude anyone from trying a yoga class they may like. Experienced or advanced students may enjoy any of these types; however, many older people, people with injuries, or people who may in other ways have difficulty with balance, physical exertion, or flexibility may appreciate the recommendations that follow each description.
For more information visit: http://www.hathayoga.net; http://www.hathayogalesson.com
Ananda Yoga: Gentle & Spiritual
This style of hatha yoga focuses heavily on the use of positive affirmations and yoga postures to bring about a higher body-, energy-, and inner- or self-awareness.
Recommended for more sedentary, less flexible, or less athletic students.
For more information visit: http://www.anandayoga.org; http://www.ananda.org
Anusara: Gentle, Spiritual, & Inclusive
(a-nu-SAR-a) This style of hatha yoga asks students literally to follow their hearts. It does focus more on body alignment than some other yoga types; however, keeping the heart as its central focus, anusara yoga is also a spiritual yoga style in which each student's individual abilities and limitations are deeply respected and honored.
Recommended for injured, older, or less flexible students.
For more information visit: http://www.anusara.com
Ashtanga: Aerobic & Demanding
More commonly known by its offshoot "Power Yoga", ashtanga yoga's goal is to build stamina and strength. Ashtanga yoga follows a set vinyasa, or series, of flowing yoga poses, whereas its later derivative, "Power Yoga", does not.
Yoga poses in both of these yoga types are physically demanding, and the pace of movement from one to the next pose can occur either painfully slowly or painfully quickly. Sometimes this yoga classroom is also heated to promote perspiration but this is not the same as "Hot Yoga."
Ashtanga yoga teachers are usually found in yoga centers and quite often more highly trained.
Recommended for physically fit, healthy, and more advanced students.
For more information visit: http://www.ashtanga.com
Bikram: Hot, Vigorous, & Demanding
This form of hatha yoga is not for the faint of heart. Like ashtanga yoga, it is one of the more physically exhausting yoga types. Yoga studios are heated, quite often to between 85 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, so be prepared to sweat and wear light and comfortable clothing.
In the original bikram yoga, students complete the same series of 26 poses during each practice; however, the same may not be true for fitness studios' "Hot Yoga" classes.
Recommended for physically fit, healthy, and more advanced students.
For more information visit: http://www.bikramyoga.com; http://www.bikram-yoga-noosa-australia.com
Integral Yoga: Gentle, Mellow, & Meditative
This heart-healthy hatha yoga style emphasizes meditation and deep breathing techniques/breath control almost equally to the yoga poses. Though integral yoga classes usually begin with a series of yoga poses, a series of deep relaxation, breathing techniques, and meditation usually follow.
Recommended for beginning, older, less flexible students.
For more information visit: http://www.iyiva.org
Iyengar Yoga: Precise & Challenging
For the students who want to learn precise proper body alignment for yoga poses, this hatha yoga type will be right for you. Often hands-on, meaning the yoga instructor may need to physically help students bring their bodies into alignment, the focus is less on moving from one yoga pose to the next and more on maintaining one pose for an extended period of time.
It is not as physically exhausting as the bikram or ashtanga yoga types; however it is still a challenging experience. Iyengar yoga frequently uses props to help students get into proper position or alignment.
Recommended for beginning, older, less flexible students.
For more information visit: http://www.iynaus.org
Kripalu Yoga: Precise, Challenging, & Freeing
Combine the precision of alignment of iyengar yoga with the inner awareness and wisdom of ananda, and you will very likely wind up with this meditation-in-motion yoga style. Not so fast, though; meditation-in-motion is actually step three after learning proper alignment and then learning to hold each yoga pose for an increasing amount of time.
Recommended for any student who is comfortable with intuitive movement and diminishing formal structure of instruction. This is also a great to practice at home.
For more information visit: http://www.kripalu.org
Kundalini Yoga: Flexible & Energetic
"Energetic" here is used less in the sense of a fast-paced yoga class (though it frequently is), but more in the sense of kundalini energy, which is believed to reside at the base of the spine and is frequently depicted as a coiled snake. This energy is released up the spine and flowing through the chakras with a series of yoga poses, meditation, breathing, and mudras (finger yoga).
The poses used in kundalini yoga are the same as the other hatha yoga types but there is more emphasis placed on flexibility and balance than on strength.
Recommended for average and moderately healthy students or anyone wishing to increase their flexibility.
For more information visit: http://www.kundaliniyoga.org
Sivananda Yoga: Supportive, Structured, & Diet-Conscious
This is probably the most well-known of the yoga types simply because many people have heard or read The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga by Swami Vishnu-Devananda, which was first published in 1960.
Like kundalini and other yoga types, sivananda yoga follows of an order of warm-up, breathing exercises, yoga poses, and relaxation; sun-salutations, sometimes several in a row, are also included and instructors often add/teach variations of poses depending on students' experience levels.
Many students of sivananda yoga are vegetarian, as this is part of the main teachings of this yoga type; however, it is not usually a requirement in joining a yoga class.
Recommended for anyone interested in learning about yoga; great for any experience level or lifestyle.
For more information visit: http://www.sivandanda.org; http://yogainusa.com
Finding your Yoga Type(s)
Hopefully the previous descriptions have awakened your curiosity about joining a yoga class and diminished any tentativeness or uncertainty you may have been feeling about the different yoga types.
You may want to try out several different yoga classes before deciding to concentrate on one single style, or you may decide to take pieces of several yoga types and create your own unique style for practice at home. Whatever you decide, your body will thank you.
Additional recources on Yoga Types for Lifestyles, Age, and Body-type:
http://yogafinder.com - claims to be "the largest yoga directory on the internet"; find classes, events, retreat centers, products, etc.
http://yogasite.com - informative site to locate yoga teachers, yoga poses, information on kids' yoga, products, etc.
http://www.santosha.com - description of yoga types, yoga accessories, meditation supplies, yoga poses, etc.
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