What yoga style is right for me

Vinyasa, Hatha, Bikram. Ever looked at the class schedule of your gym or studio wondering what all those yoga styles actually are? It’ s easy to get lost in the world of yoga, especially if you’re new to it. These are some of the most common yoga styles and what they mean.

Ashtanga

Traditional Ashtanga Vinyasa includes six series, in which the students are only allowed to move on to the next series when their teacher has considered them to pass the former. Only one person is known to have actually passed all six series. Most people don’t even pass the first.

In modern classes however Ashtanga refers more to a class that follows a fixed structure. It is a physically demanding class and suits people who want to add heat and build a strong body. But it is also a perfect class for beginners, since each class repeatedly do the same positions, offering the student a good basic knowledge of common yoga positions.

Bikram Yoga

The classic Bikram is a series of 26 postures and 2 breathwork exercises, performed in a room or shala that is heated to 40°. The heat is supposed to help illuminate toxins.

For those who find Bikram too extreme but still long for some warmer yoga environment, Hot Yoga is something to look for. Hot yoga classes hold a temperature of 27°-38° and the postures are more freely sequenced than in traditional Bikram.

hatha yoga

This is a style of yoga commonly recommended for beginners. It is slow paced and soft, and focuses a lot on connecting the breath to each posture.

Hatha, however, is also an umbrella term for yoga. With “Ha” meaning Sun and “Tha” meaning Moon, Hatha refers to bringing these two opposites together.
Almost all yoga styles in the Western world derive from Hatha.

Kundalini yoga

This is a yoga style that is growing in popularity. With the purpose of opening up the energy systems of the body, music and mantras plays an important role in Kundalini. Each class is built around a Kriya, which is a pre-designed sequence of movements.

If you’re in for a more spiritual experience then Kundalini is definitely something for you. The style itself is suitable for everyone, from beginners to more advanced yogis.

power yoga

Power Yoga is a fiery style of yoga. The focus is mainly to build heat and strength, and the classes often, but not always, involve some challenging postures. Power yoga is close to Ashtanga because of it being a physically challenging type of yoga. But it is also close to Vinyasa since it doesn’t follow a fixed structure.

Power yoga is sometimes also referred to as ‘gym yoga’, although most gyms nowadays include a variety of yoga styles.

vinyasa flow

This is maybe the most common style of yoga. It has a free form to its structure, with each class put together to fit a certain purpose or theme. It is a playful and dynamic type of yoga and invites to a flowing movement of the body. It can be both strong and soft, both slow and fast. Some classes are more spiritual while others might be more physically challenging. It’s perfect for anyone who wants a diversified type of yoga practice.

Yin Yoga

This is a passive and stretching style of yoga where each position is held for 3-5 minutes. It has its tradition in Chinese Traditional Medicine and the meridians. It aims to target the fascia of the body. It doesn’t necessarily have to include props, but usually does.

A similar style is Restorative Yoga, but unlike Yin, props are always used in Restorative and all the postures are supine. In Restorative Yoga, each position is held for 10-15 minutes.

yoga nidra

Looking for a yoga style that helps you gain better sleep? Then Yoga Nidra is the thing for you. This style can be seen as a kind of meditation with the purpose of entering the state between being awake and asleep. Students are usually laying down, and guided through a meditative landscape, where body scanning plays a crucial part. Visualisations are also commonly used in Yoga Nidra.