What types of yoga are there and what are the benefits?

The world of asanas is vast and diverse, and the various yoga styles all have different effects on individual body parts, mind, and soul. Furthermore, everyone is different, so everyone has different preferences. If you're looking for the best yoga style for you, you can read this article. Here you'll find an overview of the most well-known and popular types of yoga – so you can choose the one that's right for you.

Overview of the most popular types of yoga

In the following section, we'd like to show you that the world of yoga flows is very diverse. All types of yoga have their own characteristics and benefits for holistic well-being. While some focus on the physical aspect, others are highly meditative and spiritual.

1. Yin Yoga

This style of yoga is arguably one of the most well-known and considered a true classic. Are you often exhausted, tired, and just want to relax? Do your joints hurt and do you want to stretch your muscles? Then Yin Yoga is perfect for you. This gentle style of yoga promotes balance and relaxation on all levels. Yin Yoga is calm, gentle, and feminine—of course, that doesn't mean the style is only suitable for women. Men can practice Yin Yoga just as well. Those who have a lot of Yang (a lot of doing, activity, being productive, etc.) in their life can practice Yin Yoga as an ideal balance. This is true even if, for example, you exercise a lot, have a lengthy to-do list, or a demanding job.

Yin Yoga focuses on stretching the muscles and during an hour a few asanas are practiced, but they are held for a very long time.

2. Kundalini Yoga

Are you on your spiritual path and want to discover and allow your life energy to flow? Then Kundalini Yoga is probably the style you can integrate into your everyday life. This style of yoga incorporates the chakras and breathing. In a Kundalini Yoga class on your yoga mat, you'll find the following elements:

• Chanting
• meditation
• Breathing technique
• Mudras (hand positions)
• dynamic asanas

With the help of these elements, life energy can be increased and distributed throughout the body.

Kundalini Yoga is for you if you are open to spiritual practice and want to focus on your life energy.

c) Power Yoga

Experienced yogis who want to practice powerful asanas will benefit from Power Yoga. This is a combination of Vinyasa Yoga and Ashtanga Yoga. It offers free sequences of various asanas as well as fixed flows (which are typical of Ashtanga). If you're looking for relaxation, then Power Yoga is not for you. If, on the other hand, you want to work out and improve your fitness, you can take Power Yoga classes.

d) Vinyasa Yoga

This style is arguably one of the most well-known in the yogi world. It is a complement or further development of the original Hatha Yoga. The asanas are very flowing and therefore strengthening for the entire body. Unlike Ashtanga Yoga, the sequences can be very individually arranged and always adapted to the yogi. This is one of the advantages and special features of Vinyasa Yoga.

e) Bikram Yoga

This style of yoga is also known as hot yoga. As the name suggests, this style of yoga is practiced in a warm environment. If you already live in the tropics, you don't need to go to a Bikram yoga studio—although in this country, you do. The practice consists of a fixed sequence of 24 physical poses followed by two breathing exercises at a room temperature of around 38 degrees Celsius (the humidity is not that high). The order is fixed and cannot be changed. The advantage of hot yoga is that you sweat a lot, which allows you to release many toxins. Another advantage is that the heat stretches the muscles better.

f) Iyengar Yoga

This yoga practice originated in 1940 and is still very popular today. It focuses on correct, symmetrical posture and alignment of the body. The goal of this type of yoga is for the yogi to train the mind through correct alignment. You will benefit from increased body awareness, greater flexibility, and a great deal of strength and power. Props make the individual exercises even easier to perform. In addition to a yoga bolster , you can also use blocks, straps, chairs, or blankets.

g) Hatha Yoga

Are you a beginner but eager to get started with yoga? Then Hatha Yoga is perfect for you – it is also considered the basis of many other yoga forms that incorporate elements from this yoga style. The word Hatha is composed of the two syllables "Ha" - sun - and "Tha" - moon. It is therefore about the male and female principles, rationality and heat. The goal is to create a balance between masculinity and femininity. In this practice, you stay in the postures for a very long time so that you are well prepared for meditation. Hatha Yoga influences the power and strength of the yogi, while at the same time being relaxing and beneficial for body, mind, and soul.

h) Jivamukti Yoga

Are you musical and love chanting or singing mantras? Then this style of yoga might be a good fit for you. The advantage of Jivamukti Yoga is that it affects all the senses. The term essentially means liberation of the soul. Of course, this isn't the only important aspect. Therefore, this style of yoga also integrates the spiritual/mental level. Similar to Vinyasa Flow, the asanas here are fluid and give you the feeling of dancing. Anyone who wants to challenge themselves physically can do these flows.

i) Aerial Yoga

There are countless other yoga styles that are unique and might be beneficial for you. How about yoga in the air? Aerial yoga focuses on body tension and strength, which you use to move while suspended from a yoga cloth (Lycra). You hang in the cloth and simultaneously practice various yoga postures. One of the unique features is that you can perform inversions without placing any negative strain on your body.

What types of yoga have you tried? What's your favorite and why?