One of the greatest benefits of yoga is that it applies to so many different types of people, fitness levels and conditions. No matter if you're a beginner, a seasoned professional, an older adult or a pregnant woman, there's a type of yoga that is right for you. A visit to a yoga studio can give you more information about the general types of yoga, but a basic understanding of the names and types of yoga can help you feel more comfortable in knowing what class to take.
Hatha
Hatha yoga is the best type of yoga for beginners. Much of hatha yoga deals with proper breathing and techniques, making it a good building block for other types of yoga. Classes typically move slowly and focus on proper posture and form, making hatha yoga an effective tool for relaxation and stress management.
Bikram
Bikram yoga, also known as hot yoga, is practiced in a studio as hot as 105 degrees. A fairly new type of yoga, Bikram moves in fairly fast succession and is designed to make you sweat the entire time. Bikram yoga is a more extreme form of yoga, not appropriate for those who are pregnant or suffer from high blood pressure.
Ashtanga
Ashtanga yoga is sometimes referred to as power yoga. It involves a quick succession of poses designed to help you get a cardio workout as you move from pose to pose. The class will start with the easiest asanas, progressing to more difficult poses as the class moves nonstop.
Iyengar
Iyengar yoga focuses on proper posture and alignment. Time is taken for each asana to ensure that you have the ideal posture. Ideal for stretching, Iyengar yoga -- named for its founder, B.K.S. Iyengar -- is best for those who don't have back or neck problems, since it can be an intense exercise in which props like straps and blocks are used to achieve the best posture.
Kundalini
Kundalini is an advanced type of yoga that focuses on the awakening of the kundalini, or serpent energy in your body. Kundalini yoga asanas and breathing techniques are different than other types of yoga, so you may feel like a beginner even if you're an experienced yogi. Kundalini should only be practiced with a qualified teacher, as it can be dangerous if practiced incorrectly.
Vinyasa
The type of asanas and breathing you'll do in a vinyasa yoga class will depend on your instructor, since vinyasa yoga offers room for interpretation. While each class will begin with the same sun salutation, the rest of the class is subject to the style and preferences of the instructor. The class will move quickly and is ideal for high energy individuals who can become bored easily.
Prenatal
When you're expecting, yoga makes for a low impact yet high yield exercise that is safe for pregnancy. In a prenatal class you can expect to practice various modified asanas that are safe for your condition, along with breathing exercises that can be employed as pain management techniques later in your pregnancy.
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