9 different Yoga styles — Which one suits you?

There is not just the one Yoga style. In fact, there are more than ninety different types of Yoga. Some Yoga styles are strenuous and will make you sweat, some relaxing and calm, and others are meditative and spiritual. No matter what you’re looking for, there’s a Yoga style that will suit your needs. To give you an insight into the differences between the different Yoga styles and help you find the right yoga style for you, I will now present some of the most popular types of Yoga.

Hatha Yoga

The word ‘Hatha’ is derived from the words ‘Ha’ which means sun and ‘Tha’ for the moon. Symbolically, these stand for heat and masculinity and rationality and femininity. Hatha yoga is about creating a balance between these two opposites.

Originally, the exercises of Hatha Yoga served to give the body the necessary energy for meditation exercises. The physical postures, the asanas, are therefore the starting point for spiritual development in Hatha Yoga. The asanas are performed very consciously and held for a long time. Thus, Hatha Yoga is relaxing for the mind and body. Nevertheless, Hatha Yoga strains the muscles and demands strength, stability, and balance.

Most types of Yoga known in Europe and North America are based on Hatha Yoga. Therefore, Hatha Yoga is a classic variation for beginners. This way, you can familiarize yourself with the basics of Yoga before trying different yoga styles. Nevertheless, Hatha Yoga is not only for beginners; also many experienced yogis appreciate the mixture of rest and effort.

Kundalini Yoga

Kundalini Yoga is one of the oldest types of Yoga and, therefore, also very spiritually oriented. For thousands of years, the teachings of Kundalini Yoga were passed on only in secret and to selected students. In 1969 Yogi Bhajan revealed this knowledge to the world. He was convinced that people need this knowledge to not lose sight of themselves in the growing imbalance in the world. In the beginning, this type of Yoga was especially popular among hippies. With the techniques of Kundalini Yoga, they were able to create feelings that they had previously only felt with drugs.

Kundalini Yoga is about recognizing the ‘Sat Nam,’ the True I, hidden behind all the layers of the ego. To achieve this, Kundalini Yoga integrates chanting (mantras), powerful hand signs (mudras), breathing exercises (pranayama), and physical postures (asanas). The exercises are designed to open the chakras, which are energy centers located along the spine. Through regular practice, the yogi thereby awakens his Kundalini energy: the life energy in each of us and gives us strength and vitality.

If you want to feel comfortable in your own skin and look for spiritual teachings, Kundalini Yoga is the right place for you.

Yin Yoga

In the traditional sense, Yin stands for femininity, gentleness, and tranquility. Yang, on the other hand, symbolizes masculinity and movement. Accordingly, Yin Yoga is a relaxing and meditative practice and the appropriate antithesis to the many Yang in our lives. The physical postures of Yin Yoga are mostly performed lying down or sitting. It is not about a quick sequence of movements but about relaxing into postures over several minutes. This allows the stretching to penetrate into the fascia and connective tissue layers and promote long-term flexibility.

Yin yoga is popular among yogis and athletes as a balance to their usual practice. Even among older people and people with a lot of stress in their daily lives, Yin Yoga has now fully caught on.

Bikram Yoga

Bikram yoga is all about sweating: the practice takes place at a temperature of 38 degrees and humidity of 40 percent. These are the perfect conditions for muscle building. In the heat, the muscles loosen up and are better able to expand and tighten. Also, Bikram yoga promotes oxygen transport and metabolism.

Bikram yoga consists of a fixed sequence of 24 physical exercises and two breathing exercises, which are performed without a break. This is also the difference from the well-known Hot Yoga: in Hot Yoga, you do not follow a fixed sequence but bring elements from the different Yoga styles into the heated room.

Bikram and hot Yoga are both very athletic types of Yoga. In a 90-minute session, you burn an average of 500 to 700 calories. In this respect, Bikram yoga is something for fitness lovers.

Jivamukti Yoga

What makes Jivamukti Yoga special is the incorporation of musical elements: Mantras, chanting, and singing bowls are a vital part of the practice. But what the music expresses is that Jivamukti Yoga appeals equally to all the senses. Jivamukti means liberation of the soul. And this includes both the physical and mental levels. Accordingly, Jivamukti also places a lot of emphasis on philosophical teachings, such as devotion and non-violence.

The movement sequences in Jivamukti are flowing and merge into each other, almost like a dance. The result is a very challenging holistic body workout. Jivamukti Yoga is the perfect variation for experienced yogis who want to expand their yoga practice to other senses and make it more holistic.

Ashtanga Yoga

The Ashtanga Yoga method is based on synchronizing the breath with dynamic body movements. The sequence of movements is set in six series with varying degrees of difficulty. The practitioner repeats the same series every day for years: soon, you don’t have to think about what to do and focus entirely on yourself. This is why Ashtanga Yoga is also called “Moving Meditation.”

The exercises of Ashtanga Yoga are strung together in rapid succession. Since there are no breaks, Ashtanga Yoga is physically very demanding and trains especially stamina and strength. At the same time, the harmony between movement and breathing invigorates the mind and releases mental blockages. Ashtanga Yoga is particularly suitable for athletic yogis.

Vinyasa Yoga

Vinyasa Yoga is a modern interpretation of Ashtanga Yoga. As in Ashtanga Yoga, the focus is on the dynamic combination of breathing and movement. The difference is that the sequence of asanas in Vinyasa Yoga is not fixed. This is why it is often referred to as Vinyasa Flow, as each yogi can find their own flow of movement.

Vinyasa Yoga and the related Power Yoga are especially attractive to dynamic and swinging people who still want a connection to the relaxation and self-discovery of Yoga: In Vinyasa Yoga, you’ll find a balance between dynamism and relaxation, vitality and calm.

Iyengar Yoga

Iyengar Yoga was founded in the 1940s by Bellur Krishnamachar Sundararaja (BKS) Iyengar. Iyengar Yoga places particular emphasis on symmetrical and correct alignment of the body. The postures are held for long periods of time, and the mind is trained as the practitioner promotes awareness of correct body alignment.

In particular, the benefits of Iyengar Yoga include flexibility, strength, and body alignment, as well as calming awareness. Iyengar Yoga is very inclusive: through assistive devices, such as straps, blocks, or blankets, exercises can be customized. This makes Iyengar Yoga ideal for people with joint pain, tension, or accidental ailments.

Aerial Yoga

Aerial Yoga lets you experience the feeling of weightlessness. Aerial Yoga combines Yoga with aerial acrobatics: a trapezoidal Lycra sheet dangles from the ceiling above your mat, which you actively incorporate into your practice. You sit, lie, or hang in your sling while doing yoga postures. As you do so, you release your body weight to the sling, allowing you to better engage in the stretch.

Aerial Yoga is very relaxing. Especially inversion exercises, like the headstand, strain your spinal discs when doing Yoga on the mat. Not so with Aerial Yoga: you can relax in inversion postures and just let yourself hang, while blood circulation and metabolism are automatically boosted. Also, the swaying cloth has a very calming effect and trains your body’s tension and balance.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating.

Just as each person has their own personality, each type of Yoga has a unique character: whether it is athletic, spiritual, dynamic, calming, meditative, or integrative, Yoga style has its own special focus. With every yoga style you try, you expand your yoga practice and get to know new peculiarities about Yoga and yourself. Therefore, for yoga beginners as well as for experienced yogis: try out and enjoy new things.