THE TYPES OF YOGA
IYENGAR
Focuses on the proper alignment of the body, and uses props such as belts, blocks and blankets. Iyengar is often recommended for back pain. ASHTANGA
More athletic, it is done in a warm room and is composed of six series, which require more muscular strength and include jumping in and out of poses, as well as components of meditation.
Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga was created by John Friend to be more spiritually focused. The body, mind and spirit are all looked upon as equally divine in Anusara.
It focuses on the three As: attitude, alignment and action. BIKRAM
A popular type of hot yoga. Usually done in rooms up to 40 C, with the premise that greater heat will make the body more flexible, while detoxifying as well. It uses a unique sequence of poses that founder Bikram Choudhury does not allow anyone else to use without permission. KRIPALU
Sometimes referred to as meditation in motion, this series of poses was developed by Swami Kripalvananda as he moved into positions according to his intuition. It’s a slow, introspective approach, and students are encouraged to consciously look at their feelings and develop compassion for themselves while breathing gently and deeply. KUNDALINI
This very energetic type of yoga is called “the yoga of angles and triangles” and is said to stimulate energy flow, detoxing and glandular secretions, while awakening the latent energy said to reside in the spine. SIVANANDA
This style aims to create self-realization, through five main principals: a set of 12 specific positions in sequence, breathing practices, a healthy vegetarian diet, positive thinking and meditation. VINIYOGA
This style emphasizes giving everyone their own practice according to their unique individual needs, while always linking breath to the movement so that the postures flow. SCARAVELLI
Awareness of the ground, the breath and the spine is the ultimate guide in this gentle, very self-reflective practice of awareness and elongating the spine with the breath. One of the first styles of yoga created by a woman, Vanda Scaravelli.
INTEGRAL YOGA
Founded by Swami Satchidananda who gave the opening speech at Woodstock. It combines a daily set of specific, gentle positions for a maximum benefit with minimum number of poses.
HATHA YOGA
All physical yoga; therefore encompasses all of the above.