Bikram Yoga 

Bikram yoga is practiced in a very hot room – usually around 40°C. Founded by Bikram Choudhury, it is focused on the releasing of toxins through the skin and the development of both physical and mental strength and control. Bikram yoga is said to improve your core strength and help relax the mind.

You can read more about Bikram yoga here.

Vinyasa Yoga 

Vinyasa yoga concentrates heavily on the transition between the poses and breathing continuously throughout the class. Linking pose to breath is very important in Vinyasa. The transitions are quick, making Vinyasa Flow classes athletic and energy boosting.

“Ashtanga is a rigorous practice of yoga”

Power Yoga 

Power yoga is a derivative of Vinyasa yoga, but it has an increased focus on calisthenics and is more like an aerobics workout, such as running/jogging, cycling, swimming or hiking, than a yoga session. Poses are more like push ups or handstands, aimed on increasing your core strength and improving weight loss. The synchronicity of breathing and transition between poses is still central to the practice, making it still very much a part of Vinyasa yoga.

Ashtanga Yoga 

Ashtanga yoga is a rigorous yoga practice which focuses on the same sequence of yoga poses in the same order each time. This is called the Primary Series. Ashtanga classes usually last for a minimum of 1.5 hours.

Ashtanga yoga is very similar to Vinyasa yoga – there is the same synchronicity of breath and movement – but it is more rigid in structure. The result is an intense cardiovascular workout that will cultivate a light yet strong body and a relaxed mind.

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SPIRITUAL YOGA

Kundalini Yoga 

Kundalini yoga is a spiritual practice that focuses on harnessing purifying energy in the base of the spine and directing it upwards through a channel of clear chakras.

The practice concentrates on finding and clearing these chakras by engaging in chanting, breathing, meditation and Kundalini poses. It’s all about strengthening and releasing the physical, mental and nervous energies in your body. When done properly this type of yoga can be energising, purifying and healing.

Jivamukti Yoga 

Jivamukti yoga and Sivananda are perhaps two of the most spiritual forms of yoga. They are made up of meditation, sanskrit chanting, vegetarianism and the role of music in yoga. These types of yoga concentrate more on the purification of the mind and spirit as well as the study of scriptures.

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Integral Yoga 

Integral yoga is similar but involves less life changes. It focuses on meditation and prayer as well as poses but concentrates less on vegetarianism and scripture.  

Ananda Yoga 

Ananda yoga is almost completely focused on meditation as it is slow and methodical and leads you towards a calm and empty state of mind.

Kali Ray TriYoga

For a more modern approach there is Kali Ray TriYoga, originating in California in 1980, which concentrates on light, dance like movements, breathing and meditation, or Anusara yoga, which focuses on a playfulness of spirit and an open heart as well as strict and challenging poses.

Whichever yoga you think is right for you, all in all, yoga is for everyone, so pick a practice, grab a yoga mat and go get spiritual.

Read our article on what to expect from your first yoga class here.

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