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Understanding the difference between various yoga styles can be confusing to even the most advanced practitioner. As a beginner, you may know that you want to practice yoga, but be confused about all the different styles you've heard of on a class (or programme) schedule.
All yoga styles are based on the same asana (poses or postures). What makes them unique is that they emphasise a different part of the practice. Some may focus on a specific series of asana, or on a particular way of coordinating your breath and movement, or maybe on following a very strict body alignment while in the pose to ensure you get the best benefit.
The beautiful thing is that this variety gives people the chance to find what they enjoy most, whether it be a gentle practice to calm the mind or a vigorous practice to build physical strength. Its up to you to determine what you're looking for and what teacher will be able to give you what you want.
Try practicing a few different styles of yoga, and you'll soon discover what yoga feels right for you. Here are a few different types to get you started:
Vinyasa (also known as flow)
Kundalini
Iyengar
Ashtanga (sometimes known as power yoga)
Jivamukti
Sivananda
Bikram (also known as hot yoga)
Hatha (all physical yoga)
Vinyasa (or flow)
The literal translation of Vinyasa means 'breath-synchronised movement'; Vinyasa is designed to make your body and your breath work together in harmony and is one of the more physically demanding forms of yoga.
Otherwise known as Vinyasa-flow, postures flow from one to another in conjunction with your breath; students move into and out of postures. Well-known practitioners include Katy Appleton and Shiva Rea.
Kundalini, as explained by Maya Fiennes
There are many types of yoga and they all have the same goal, to establish the Union between You as an individual and the Universe. That's what Yoga means 'Union'. Kundalini Yoga has its own way of getting you there. It's the mother of all yoga, it is a method of waking up your Kundalini energy, which we all have, we are all born with. It is our essence of life force. It lies in the chakra at the 4th vertebrae of the spine and it is only when we wake it up that we recognise and establish the power within us.
Kundalini yoga will help you become that new person, awake, aware, conscious and present. As Yogi Bhajan says, we are all spiritual beings having a human experience, so let's make this experience an enjoyable one!
Kundalini combines movement, breath, chants, mantra and sound vibration to awaken the spirit, energise the body and relax the mind. It is specifically designed for busy minds. It releases tension and stress and it builds your immune system. It is Alchemy, transforming the old, stagnated energy. It helps you to handle everyday life circumstances much better.
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Ashtanga
Ashtanga consists of four series of vinyasa or flow style asana sequences. Each series intensifies in difficult, with the primary or first series is designed to build strength, flexibility and stamina whilst the fourth or advanced series is aimed at exceptionally advanced students and consists of a sequence of challenging arm balancing asanas. It helps to be reasonably fit before starting a class.
Jivamukti
Jivamukti yoga places emphasis on chanting, meditiation and spiritual teachings. Founded by David Life and Sharon Gannon, Jivamukti classes are physically demanding, also following a vinyasa style practice with a fast paced flowing series of postures, supported by meditation and chanting.
"We chose the name Jivamukti (pronounced Jee-va-mook-tee) Yoga to reflect the true aim of yoga, which is liberation. Jiva means individual soul and mukti means liberation. The exact transliteration of the Sanskrit word from which Jiavmukti is derived is jivanmuktih, which means liberation while living."
- Sharon Gannon and David Life, founders of Jivamukti Yoga
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Sivananda
Sivananda yoga is based on a series of 5 principles;
1. Rigorous exercise - with a focus on 12 postures or asanas
2. Correct breathing or Pranayama
3. Relaxation or Savasana
4. Vegetarian diet
5. Positive thinking and meditation
Iyengar
Iyengar yoga focuses on proper alignment and precise movements, often using blocks or straps to modify postures that may be too strenuous for those with neck or back problems. It enables those who may be less flexible or fit to enjoy the benefits of yoga. If you have done Pilates and enjoyed it, this may be your best form of yoga.
Bikram yoga
Sometimes referred to as 'hot yoga', practitioners of Bikram perform a fixed series of 26 postures in a heated room. The Bikram series consists of 2 sets of each posture and usually last for around 90 minutes. Founded by Bikram Choudry, it's practised in a heated room and participants should expect to release a lot of sweat. Profuse sweating assists the cleansing process by speeding up the removal of toxins from the body. The heat is also thought to allow practitioners to stretch muscles more deeply and assist in protecting the body from injury.
Hatha yoga
All physical yoga, where you are moving your body and breath through asana, is called Hatha yoga. Classes or teachers that are described as "hatha" generally mean that the teacher is offering a blend of two or more other styles. The teacher may have developed their own program, or they may lead a sequence that has been designed to help reach a particular benefit.
Hatha is the most common and most popular form of yoga and is most suitable for beginners and those who like a less yntense level of exertion. Classes focus on postures and breathing, increasing the challenges as you progress.
> view our yoga programme catalogue
> watch short clips of different yoga programmes
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