Yoga can be quite confusing when first starting. You might wonder what type of class to take, what to wear, where to go. In sharing with you some of my thoughts, my hope is to give you a little background to make it a bit easier to navigate the sea of choices. By no means is this a comprehensive breakdown of yoga, but hopefully a simplified way to get your foot in the door of a yoga practice that might be the right fit for you.
Originally yoga practices that offered physical postures fell under the umbrella of Hatha yoga. Hatha meaning “force,” which alludes to the physical, and also traditionally offered a total life philosophy of an eight limbed path. This path consisted of eight mind-body disciplines to be mastered. From the Hatha method sprang other physical practices, many of which are listed below. It’s important to understand, that the physical practice of yoga initially was secondary to the ancient practices of Pranayama (expansion of the vital energy or life force by means of the breath), Dharana (focus or placement of mental faculty), and Nada (sound). At the very grass roots level, the practice of yoga was to make and enjoy a connection to the Divine. Yoga as a means of health and fitness has only come about since the 1920’s and 1930’s. As Yoga was influenced by Western culture, it grew into several contemporary styles. I once read that you could liken this new style of yoga to a graft in the tree of yoga, with perhaps a few roots to the ancient Indian traditions. Today there is a plethora of disciplines and linages in the marketplace of yoga. The question to ask yourself is, what do I really want to gain from a yoga practice?
Common Types of Yoga (Not a complete list)
- Anusara: Started in the 90’s by John Friend, a child of Hatha yoga. Anusara focuses on opening to grace, with the idea of connecting to a higher power.
- Ashtanga: A strict form of yoga progressing in intensity through six series. Considered a very physical practice with a heavy focus on breath to movement.
- Bhakti: Also called Bhakti marga, a path of devotion. It is a spiritual path or spiritual practice of returning to our natural state, understanding that God is in us and all things.
- Bikram: Consisting of 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises. Practiced in 105-degree room with humidity. Hot Yoga is a take-off of Bikram where the room is heated, but there is not a set sequence and the temperature can vary.
- Dharma: Fairly new form of yoga. Started by Sri Dharma Mittra, a student of Yogi Gupta. Dharma yoga blends techniques from Hatha yoga and numerous other styles, with traditional yogic philosophy.
- Hatha: Traditionally a catch all phrase for any type of yoga with physical postures called asanas. Including breathing techniques known as pranayama. Hatha yoga classes are typically slow-paced with a focus on proper alignment.
- Iyengar: Heavily cued with a focus on alignment. This type of yoga uses props, such as blocks, bolsters, blankets, straps, etc. to help support and find a specific alignment.
- Karma: A spiritual path known as the “yoga of action.” The focus is not on physical postures on the mat, but rather “right action” in deeds in order to achieve purity and oneness with humanity. This is done without any compensation.
- Kundalini: First introduced to the West by Yogi Bhajan, Kundalini yoga is a combination of Breath, movement, and sound in the form of chanting or mantra. The movements are known as “kryias,” which encompass breath control techniques with exercises to achieve a specific outcome, mainly purification.
- Prenatal/Postnatal: Adhering to postures that are safe for expectant and postpartum moms. This type of yoga practice also utilizes certain breathing techniques, and meditation to sooth and calm the nervous system.
- Restorative: The main focus of Restorative Yoga is exactly as it says, to restore and recover your energy with the aid of props and slow gentle movement held for an extended period of time, in order to facilitate healing through stillness. Learning to relax helps alleviate stress and helps release built up tension.
- Vinyasa/Vinyasa flow: Generally, a faster paced style where postures are linked together with the breath. Focus is on the transitions between the postures, sometimes referred to as the “space in-between.” This style can also vary based on the school and instructor style.
- Yin Yoga: Slower-paced, meditative version of the yoga asanas (postures). The postures are generally held for 3-5 minutes, to target connective tissues, such as ligaments. Yin Yoga traces its roots to China, founded on the Taoist theory of yin/yang, opposite concepts that together represent balance. A Yin practice can be a compliment to a Yang yoga practice, such as many listed above.
After reading through the
short list of different types of yoga, you might still be scratching your head trying to figure out where to start. My suggestion is, look for a beginning class. Try different styles until you find something you enjoy and gives you the opportunity to progress. There are many free offerings on-line, trial weeks at local studios and punch passes to get you started.
Though not resembling the ancient yoga traditions in many ways, these relatively modern traditions still have their place. Some may argue this is not so, I can only speak from personal experience as to what modern yoga has done for me. “We need to learn from and honor tradition while developing our ability to listen to our own uniqueness and needs.” (gobodhiyoga.com) Finding the right type of yoga may be all it takes to get started on the path to a more integrated you. Best of luck my friends.
Namaste, Holly
