Hatha yoga concentrates on the physical and breathing aspects of yoga. From the Sanskrit "ha" for "sun," "tha" for "moon" and "yoga" for yoking, hatha yoga emphasizes bringing opposites together through the practice of asana, or physical postures, and pranayama, or breathing techniques. The goal is to balance the body and encourage ease in meditation.
Ashtanga
The late Sri K. Pattabhi Jois promoted Ashtanga yoga, a challenging, sweat-inducing practice of matching breath to a specific sequence of movements. The goal is to build heat and detoxify muscles and organs to calm the mind and strengthen the body. A popular variation of Ashtanga is power yoga.
Iyengar
Iyengar Yoga is named for its founder, B.K.S. Iyengar of Pune, India. The Iyengar style emphasizes precise alignment to develop strength, flexibility, stamina and concentration. The use of props makes this style accessible to practitioners of all levels.
VIniyoga
Inspired by the teachings of T.K.V. Desikachar, Viniyoga comes from the Sanskrit for "adaptation" and applies yoga as an individual practice. Asanas and pranayama are adapted to a person's needs along with a study of ancient texts, chanting, personal ritual, chanting and meditation.
Kundalini
Yogi Bhajan brought Kundalini yoga to the west in 1969. Kundalini focuses on unfurling the energy coiled at the base of the spine and lifting it through the body's chakras for a spiritual awakening. Kundalini yoga uses less common asanas, all of which are meant to open energy pathways.
Sivananda
The teachings of Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh, India, emphasize five points of yoga: asanas, pranayama, relaxation, diet and positive thinking. A Sivananda class promotes these points with 12 basic asanas performed in a slow, meditative style.
Anusara
From the Sanskrit for "flowing with grace," Anusara yoga was founded by former Iyengar instructor John Friend in 1997. This heart-opening practice focuses on aligning your attitude and actions with grace through asana, pranayama and meditation.
Integral
The goal of Integral Yoga, as defined by founder Sri Swami Satchidananda, is "to live harmoniously as members of one universal family." An Integral hatha yoga practice includes asana, pranayama and relaxation.
Jivamukti
Jivamukti founders David Life and Sharon Gannon describe their style as "a path to enlightenment through compassion for all beings." From the Sanskrit words for "liberation while living." Jivamukti yoga incorporates a flowing sequence of asanas with ancient yoga texts, music, chanting, meditation and political activism.
Bikram
Created by Bikram Choudhury, Bikram yoga is a set sequence of 26 asanas practiced in a 105-degree Fahrenheit room to mimic the conditions of India. These 26 asanas help flush out your system, improve circulation and increase oxygen intake.
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