To understand the different types of yoga we have to go back to the origin. Yoga began in India more than 5,000 years ago and has developed and diversified over the centuries. There are traces written in Sanskrit considered to be the founding foundation of yoga. They are thus called Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra by the names of two scholars, one being grammarian and the other being the one who compiled the different sentences.
However, Patanjali‘s history is subject to much debate and myth, so it is difficult to determine the exact origin of the emergence of yoga. These short sentences will then be transcribed by masters in order to make them accessible to all. Yoga sutra is the very origin of all the different types of yoga that have subsequently been developed. Thus, the first yoga school opened in Paris in 1945.
A practice that is becoming more and more widespread throughout the world
Widely acclaimed, yoga is a discipline practiced by more and more people. There are about 250 million practitioners worldwide. This attractiveness for this sport is normal since the practice of yoga combines physical and psychological activity. The combination of the two is good for the body and mind. In addition, the practice of yoga is accessible to everyone and all ages. Thus, even if you are not a great sportsman, you will be able to perform different postures very quickly.
Yoga allows you to gain flexibility and balance. The different postures require concentration and precision to be perfectly achieved. It is also necessary to concentrate on your breathing, which is coordinated on the different movements.
In yogi culture, certain yoga positions allow the different chakras to be balanced.
Relaxation, flexibility, weight training are the three benefits that come back to the practice of yoga.
There are more than 20 different types of yoga according to the International Yoga Federation. More or less sporty, the different kinds of yoga preserve the search for physical and mental balance and combine meditation and breathing in connection with nature. From the softest to the most athletic, you can easily find the yoga style that suits you according to your possibilities and objectives.
Among the twenty or so types of yoga, 10 stand out and are the most practiced. We will present them to you by explaining their characteristics, their benefits and how to practice them. The first 5 are the most practiced in the West, especially in France. The advantage is that you will easily find a course where one of these types of yoga is practiced. It is of course possible to practice this discipline without necessarily registering for a course, many books and websites provide advice and lessons. There are even videos that will allow you to perform the different postures in the right way. The benefit of taking a course by an experienced teacher is to do the exercises safely and without risk of hurting yourself.
The 10 most popular types of yoga
The HATHA YOGA
Definition
It is the most classic type of yoga. It is also the most popular and the most practiced. The Sanskrit term is hatha yoga and can be translated as “stress yoga”. It combines breathing, postures and meditation, which lead to spiritual awakening.
Practice
It is the most Zen type of yoga, it is considered the most traditional. To practice Hatha Yoga, you don’t need much material. A floor mat in a quiet place is sufficient. More a method of relaxation than sport, it adapts to everyone. The postures must be adapted according to one’s possibilities and abilities and not the other way around.
The benefits
The postures must be performed with concentration in order to perfectly align the body. Maintaining the different postures over a specific period of time helps to tone the body in depth, but also disciplines the mind. The benefit is felt on an excellent balance between body and mind.
ASHTANGA YOGA
Definition
ASHTANGA YOGA was developed in the 1930s by Master Yogi Krishnamacharya who learned from Master Sri Ramamohan Brahmachari in the Himalayas. The origin of its name comes from the Sanskrit ashtau which means 8 and anga which is translated by members. The number 8 refers to the number of postures declined in Ashtanga Yoga. It also refers to 8 rules, kinds of life philosophy, namely:
- Yamas: behavioural rule
- Niyamas: self-discipline
- Asanas: body postures
- Pranayama: breathing
- Pratyahara: mastery of the senses
- Dharana: concentration
- Dhyana: meditation
- Samadhi: enlightenment
Practice
The postures of Ashtanga Yoga are precise and must be followed in a specific order. The sequences performed are thus more and more complex and fast. Their perfect execution requires good training and excellent discipline. You should only perform the next posture when the previous one is perfectly performed, which requires patience and humility.
The benefits
This type of yoga affects the breathing and the body’s tone. The requirement for the perfect realization will teach you to be perseverant and patient. You will have to be very humble in your learning and especially to perform the postures without hurting yourself. Indeed, as soon as pain appears, it is necessary to stop the movement and resume it until it is performed without pain. Ashtanga Yoga helps to relieve joints and reduce anxiety and stress. It also increases endurance and flexibility.
VINYASA YOGA
Definition
In Sanskrit, Vinyasa Yoga means “synchronization of movement on breathing”. Thus Vi is translated by a specific way and Nyasa by placing. It is therefore the sequence of movements in a dynamic way coordinated by breathing. Breath control, an important component in the practice of yoga, takes on its full dimension here.
Practice
Vinyasa Yoga does not follow strict rules regarding the postures to be respected. They are often the result of the yoga teacher’s experience or your own aspirations. It is rather a dynamic yoga and is appreciated for its more sporty side than traditional yoga. Adherents of this type of yoga can thus enjoy a complete training that meets a demand combining body alignment and physical activity.
The benefits
More sporty than Hatha Yoga, Vinyasa is nevertheless suitable for all audiences since nothing is imposed. Thus, it is experience and mastery that will guide the different sequences between the postures you will follow. It will allow you to tone your body, but also to enjoy a healthy physical activity. The help of an experienced yoga teacher can greatly help you to progress and achieve your goals.
KUNDALINI YOGA
Definition
The first steps of this type of yoga can be found in the United States around 1892. It was then introduced in Europe in 1932, but remained quite confidential until 1969 when it was taught by Master Yogi Bhajan. Considered as the “royal way”, it allows the development of consciousness.
Practice
Closely linked to spirituality, Kundalini Yoga is also called original yoga. The sessions are conducted with mantra songs, meditation and breathing. The postures are quite secondary, they complete the session, but are not the heart of it. This type of yoga requires a certain openness of mind and to have overcome some of your difficulties. If you have already practiced yoga, you will certainly be more comfortable.
The benefits
Kundalini Yoga acts as much on the body as on the mind. It allows a perfect physical and energetic balance between the two. Complete practice, energetic and spiritual, you will feel a deep sense of well-being after each session. Thus, each movement and each breath will allow you to warm up your sleeping energy.
BIKRAM YOGA
Definition
Sometimes controversial, this type of yoga is practiced in a room heated to 40°C / 105°F. Finding its inspiration in Hatha Yoga, it was developed by Bikram Choudhury in the 1970s in the United States. Bikram Yoga arrived in France in 2001, but it is still not widely practiced. Indeed, the fact of practicing the sessions in an overheated room could cause cardiovascular problems.
Practice
Bikram Yoga sessions are therefore practiced in a room deliberately heated to 40°C / 105°F and with a humidity level of 40%. This involves performing 2 breathing exercises and 26 different postures in a 90-minute period. The different postures will work all the muscles of the body.
The benefits
To practice Bikram Yoga, it is necessary to be in good physical condition. The advantage of this temperature is to improve the flexibility of muscles and joints. Thus, the heat will cause perspiration, which helps to remove toxins and promote movement. The practice of hot yoga will strengthen the joints and prevent the risk of osteoporosis in particular. It also helps to relieve stress and to feel psychological well-being.
THE POWER YOGA
Definition
This is a form of yoga that has appeared very recently, we talk about modern and more fun yoga. Arrived in the 1980s, it is widely acclaimed and there are more and more courses offering power yoga.
Practice
Largely inspired by ashtanga Yoga in a more dynamic version, the classes take place in a heated room. The postural sequences (asanas) are fast and require very rigorous training. Thus, we find Pilates and fitness movements associated with traditional yoga postures.
The benefits
Power Yoga is performed in a warm atmosphere so the body’s perspiration due to the heat will allow the joints and muscles to be more flexible. By practicing regularly, you can achieve excellent muscle tone. The benefits will be both psychological (reduced anxiety, stress relief, mental clarity, better concentration) and physical (better endurance, more flexible joints, revitalized vital energy, better blood circulation and muscle tone).
However, you must ensure that you are in excellent physical condition and do not suffer from chronic diseases before engaging yourself in Power Yoga.
JIVAMUKTI YOGA
Definition
In Sanskrit, Jivamukti means “state of liberation”. This type of yoga appeared in 1986 under the impetus of David and Sharon Gannon. It is a question, through physical work and the precepts of yoga, of conveying a strong spiritual message.
Practice
In the same way as Ashtanga or Vinyasa yoga, the sessions are based on songs, deep breathing and music combined with postural work. Each Jivamukti yoga session begins and ends with songs, and is systematically accompanied by music. Then, the courses are given according to the themes that are announced for each month, moreover each session begins by studying one of the founding writings of yoga.
The benefits
The practice of Jivamukti is a real source of well-being. Completely dedicated to the mind to release tensions through the work of postures. Learning through the lessons studied in each course helps to nourish the mind as much as the course. It encourages you to follow the precepts of yoga to integrate them into daily life. The physical benefits are felt especially on the muscles and on a better flexibility.
NIDRA YOGA
Definition
Nidra Yoga or sleep yoga. Hindu culture speaks of a state of constant sleep, as a reminder to Narayana, a sleeping vishnu. Developed and adapted by Swami Satyananda in the 1950s, it was developed from Tantric yoga.
Practice
Nidra yoga is practiced lying down according to Savasana’s posture. The eyes must be closed and you must be completely motionless. Moreover, even if you fall asleep, it does not matter, because even if your body is asleep, your mind is not. It is said to be the yoga of deep relaxation. During the whole session, which lasts 30 to 40 minutes, you are thus semi-conscious and you recite mantras that will allow you to let go.
The benefits
Sleep yoga, as its name suggests, is designed to provide you with quality sleep, better sleep. This allows a better physical and mental regeneration, to better manage emotions, and especially to correctly evacuate negative thoughts that can parasitize you. Stress will be less present, because Nidra yoga helps, among other things, to reduce anxiety.
IYENGAR YOGA
Definition
Also called therapeutic yoga, it is intended to relieve pain such as back pain. It takes its name from its creator, Iyengar, who developed it in the 1970s.
Practice
This type of yoga is practiced with yoga accessories such as a bolster (support), a foam brick or a chair. The course lasts about 1 hour and 30 minutes and is adapted according to the level of the students. The postures are organized in sequence and must be performed very carefully.
The benefits
Ideal for developing endurance, resistance and body alignment, Iyengar yoga has a therapeutic focus. It would thus relieve various ailments, but it makes it possible to achieve a very good spiritual deepening. By combining meditation and concentration, it strengthens the balance between body and mind.
FLY YOGA
Definition
Fly yoga or aerial yoga, this practice has the particularity of taking place in the air using an accessory. Developed very recently, in 2009, aerial yoga is more and more trendy!
Practice
Fly yoga provides a feeling of floating. To achieve this, it is necessary to have a specific accessory, a kind of parachute canvas hammock where you can perform different postures, a few centimetres above the ground. Accessible to everyone, as well as to children, it is really fun. Depending on the course, you will either be in contact with the ground or in weightlessness! The feeling of floating in the air is extremely soothing and helps to relax the body, but also the mind.
The benefits
Aerial yoga strengthens concentration. Indeed, being suspended, you will have to be more attentive to your actions, even if this practice does not involve any danger. You will gain in flexibility and at the same time, you will be able to strengthen your muscles. It is an excellent way to relieve stress, because this rather playful practice allows you to spend a relaxing and light moment.
What to remember about the different types of yoga
Through the presentation of the different types of yoga, we can see that the common thread is based on the precepts of the first master yogis and that the central and fundamental point lies in a search for balance between mind and body. It is always a matter of combining postures with breathing and meditation. More or less dynamic or more or less sporty, there is certainly a type of yoga that corresponds to your ability and objectives. Depending on the popularity of the course you choose, finding a teacher may be more or less tedious. That is why the solution may be to train yourself and, for this purpose, many resources are fortunately available. However, it is recommended to contact a master. Indeed, it is the very essence of the spirit of yoga that encourages the transmission, the sharing of experiences that are part of a philosophy of life.
Whether it is for your personal, spiritual growth or to maintain good health conditions, there are many reasons to practice yoga. It is a practice that is part of a philosophy of life and a life-open approach. Yoga enthusiasts are often recognized as Zen people, listening and close to those around them, they are also very sensitive to energies and nature.
The frequency of your yoga sessions is determined by your abilities in terms of time and physical conditions. Thus, to obtain results, it is not necessary to practice every day, but rather to split your sessions over shorter but regular times. It is also important to be focused and mentally available to find enough attention to receive all the benefits of yoga.
The practice of yoga is not dangerous. However, some forms require good health, especially those practiced in an overheated room, so it is best to consult your doctor before starting to make sure everything is fine.
What is your type of yoga?
Are you a yoga enthusiast and if so, which one do you practice? Did you know that there are so many different types of yoga? How did you choose this type of yoga over another? What motivates you to practice this sport? Tell us about your experiences in comments, they can be very inspiring for people new to yoga who want more information before they start!