by Alicia Yamashita

Created on: May 05, 2010

With the many benefits that yoga has to offer, both physically and mentally, there is little wonder why so many people are becoming more and more aware of yoga and are beginning to practice it regularly. But if you think that yoga is not for you, then think again. The variety in different types of yoga is nearly limitless, leaving many possibilities and options for the yoga newcomer. Although, with so many different options when trying to choose a yoga style that is just for you, it is important to become informed as to what the differences are between all of the many different styles available. So here is a list of some of the most basic and common forms of yoga practices available and the differences amongst them.

Hatha Yoga

This is the most broad ranged category of physical yoga and it includes countless subcategories of yoga within it. However, you can generally expect that this type of yoga will consist of gentle, or beginning level poses and breathing techniques along with a nice slow pace that is suitable and well manageable for most people. Hatha Yoga is a good place to start if you are very new to yoga.

Ashtanga Yoga

This type of yoga is sometimes referred to as “Power Yoga.” It is usually much more fast paced than Hatha Yoga and it is definitely more physically demanding. In Ashtanga Yoga you can expect to flow through one intense pose to the next rather quickly and orderly. Ashtanga Yoga is best suited for people who are looking for a rather vigorous exercise.

Bikram Yoga

Also known as “Hot Yoga,” this style of yoga practice gets its nickname from the mandatory hot temperature of the room that you are practicing in of approximately 100 degrees. The official Bikram Yoga practice consists of twenty-six different poses along with two breathing exercises that are all performed in a ninety minute long class. The main thing about Bikram Yoga is that it is meant to cause the student to sweat a lot for the purpose of body cleansing and therefore requires a lot of hydration before hand and generally very few articles of clothing. If you choose Bikram Yoga, be wary of practicing it without a certified Bikram Yoga studio as it has many specific guidelines that may be crucial to your health.

Kundalini Yoga

This type of yoga focuses on the goal of releasing stores of energy from base of the spine out of the top of the head. It emphasizes greatly the importance of specific combinations of breathing techniques with certain poses. There is much meditation and mantra like chanting involved but the poses can also be quite physically demanding. Kundalini Yoga is well suited for spiritual people looking for a practice that is challenging both physically and mentally.

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