The very quick guide to Yoga Styles

One of the most confusing things for many people who are thinking of starting a yoga practice is the abundance of Yoga on offering!

I've compiled a super quick, very basic overview to styles of Yoga as a bit of a cheat sheet.

Acro Yoga
A fun, playful fusion of Yoga and Acrobatics, practiced with a partner.

Aerial Yoga or Anti-Gravity Yoga
Originating in New York, this style is combination of Yoga, Pilates and dance with the use of a silk hammock as a swing or trapeze to practice the sequences.

Ashtanga
A physically demanding style that originates from Mysore, India; founded by the late Shri K. Pattabhi Jois and continued by his son, Sharath. Ashtanga is Vinyasa based and with a set sequence of postures. It is practiced as a led sequence where a certified teacher will guide you through, or as a Mysore practice. A Mysore practice is a group setting with 'one-on-one' guidance, where each student practices a section of the sequence at their own pace and are given adjustments and guidance.

Bikram
Developed by Bikram Choudhury, classes are held in artificially heated rooms. Students work through a series of 26 poses. Like Ashtanga, a Bikram class always follows the same sequence, though the sequences are different. The room is heated to 40 celsius, so you will sweat.

Hatha Yoga
Hatha is a term that refers to any sort of physical yoga practice - technically most yoga classes are Hatha classes! However, if a class is specifically marketed as 'Hatha' it generally implies a more gentle approach with more basic poses. It does not always have the 'flow' of a Vinyasa practice but provides the space and time to develop a steady practice.

Hot Yoga
Similar to Bikram - artificially heated room and lots of sweat! In Hot Yoga the room is between 30 - 40 degrees celsius. Practicing in this heat elevates the heart rate, which makes the body work harder and sweat! This sweating is believed to help both “detoxification” and to assist the body to move safely into the postures.

Iyengar Yoga
Developed by the late B.K.S Iyengar in Pune, India; from a lifetime of practice and research. This style emphasis the alignment and precision of every pose, using props and adjustments to assist all students in accessing a yoga practice.

Restorative
Intended to be relaxing and rejuvenating; Restorative classes use props such as blankets, bolsters and blocks to support the body in passive poses - this is designed to allow the full effect of the pose to be experienced with minimum exertion for the body.

SUP Yoga
SUP or Stand Up Paddle Board Yoga is exactly how it sounds! Originating in Hawaii, A SUP class typically starts with a short warm up paddle, usually to the spot that you will be practicing yoga and instruction on the equipment. The Yoga part runs just as any other class would - with the teacher guiding you through the physical postures.

Vinyasa
Vinyasa is a style of yoga where breath and movement are synced together in a vigorous, flowing way. For every movement, there is one breath. A lot of styles of yoga are Vinyasa based, however many studios offer a Vinyasa class. Also referred to as 'Flow' or 'Vinyasa Flow' these classes are known for their fluid sequencing. Classes smoothly transition from pose to pose, and often play music. The intensity of the practice is similar to Ashtanga, though no two classes are ever the same!
Vinyasa is also the term used to describe a specific sequence of poses (Chaturanga to Upward-Facing Dog to Downward-Facing Dog) used to link poses throughout a class.

Yin Yang
Yin/Yang Yoga is a style designed to balance a Yin yoga practice for the first half of the class with Yang yoga practices for the second half of the class. 'Yang' style yoga is considered to be a Hatha style practice. This class can provide you with a practice that starts with deep, introspective, and quiet yoga that evolves into an energizing and uplifting yoga experience.

Yin
Founded by martial arts & Taoist Yoga Teacher Paulie Zink. Yin Yoga targets the connective tissues, such as the ligaments, fascia and joints of the body that normally are not exercised other active styles of Yoga, and usually focuses on the hips, pelvis and lower spine. The pace is a lot slower as poses are held anywhere from one to five minutes. This extended focus in a pose also means there are usually less postures to work through in a sequence.

Yoga Therapy
Yoga Therapy is not a 'treatment' so much as a personalised approach to sequencing where a student works closely with certified teachers through the use of props and alignment to access all the benefits of Yoga. Ideal for students with chronic illness or serious injuries, this style supports students in developing a yoga practice and manage their health issues or injuries.

Yoga Nidra
A deep relaxation practice that differs from Meditation in that you move into a semi-conscious state. It is also considered a good preparation for moving into Meditation. Often students fall asleep when they are first introduced to Yoga Nidra, but ideally you remain aware of the guide's voice throughout the Nidra.

I hope this helps you on your journey to finding a style that works for you. Don't be afraid of experimenting until you find one you enjoy!

And remember to consult your doctor or healthcare professional before embarking on any exercise program. This is extremely important if you have health concerns or serious injuries; so if you have high blood pressure, glaucoma, arthritis, spinal disk injuries, heart disease; or if you are pregnant.