Health & Balance

Which Style of Yoga Is Best for You?

Common Styles of Yoga continued...

Kundalini yoga. Kundalini yoga is more spiritual and philosophical in approach than other styles of yoga. It was designed to awaken kundalini energy in the spine. Kundalini yoga classes include meditation, breathing techniques such as alternate nostril breathing, and chanting as well as yoga postures. Less stress is placed on body positioning, and the instructor does not usually help adjust a student’s position.

Hatha Yoga. "Hatha yoga" originally meant the physical practice of yoga. It meant doing the pose as opposed to doing the breathing exercises called pranayama or following the philosophical or ethical practices of some styles of yoga. Hatha yoga now is often used when a few different yoga styles are combined to create a simple class that's good for beginners learning to do basic poses.

Viniyoga. Viniyoga is another gentle style of yoga. It focuses on how your breath moves through your body and affects each pose. It does this rather than emphasizing the precise execution of each pose. The long, deep stretches of this style of yoga are ideal for beginners and people who want to focus on flexibility, injury recovery, body awareness, and relaxation. Viniyoga adapts a series of poses to each individual student's physical needs, goals, and limitations.

Other Styles of Yoga

Various styles of yoga are often adapted according to a person's specific medical condition, from, AIDS to depression to heart disease. Teachers emphasize the mind-body connection, self acceptance, and the calming effects of yoga, along with the physical poses themselves. Some examples: 

Kripalu yoga. This begins with gentle, slow movements that barely cause a sweat, then progresses through three levels of deeper mind-body awareness.

Sivananda yoga. This style involves 13 gentle poses performed in between periods of supine relaxation (lying down). Sivananda yoga is easily adaptable to people of different abilities.