Forms for Yoga

Yoga can take many forms, from physical to devotional practices. Jennifer Cook writes, "Classes that have gained popularity in the United States usually teach one of the many types of hatha yoga, a physical discipline which focuses mainly on asanas (postures) and breathwork... ." Of the many hatha styles, some are therapeutic while others can increase your heart rate and make you sweat for a nice cardio workout. You can find a type of yoga to benefit you no matter what your needs.

Vinyasa

In a vinyasa practice, you flow from one posture to the next, as if in a dance. You do not generally hold the poses as long as in other styles of yoga. Ashtanga and Power Yoga both use the vinyasa format. The Ashtanga sequences range in difficulty so you can advance from the beginner to advanced series. Bender Birch created Power Yoga in 1995 as a way to make Ashtanga more accessible to those who might have been a little wary of yoga.

Iyengar

Iyengar yoga focuses on precise postural alignment in order to strengthen the body and increase flexibility. You use props when needed to achieve this alignment, and you hold the postures to build endurance. You constantly strive to take each posture to a deeper level, increasing your concentration and body awareness.

Anusara

John Friend, founder of the Anusara tradition, began as an Iyengar teacher. According to the Anusara website, "The poses in Anusara yoga are considered to be 'heart-oriented,' meaning that they are expressed from the 'inside out.'" Body alignment remains a central theme of the Anusara style, but the method balances that with emotional and spiritual awareness.

Viniyoga

Viniyoga emphasizes the effect movement and posture will have on your individual body. You retrain your body into more healthful patterns and habits in this gentle practice. In "Yoga for Wellness," Gary Kraftsow describes the yoga poses as "a study in movement potential, not in the attainment of perfect form."

Bikram

You perform the 26 postures of Bikram yoga in rooms heated to 105 degrees. The vigorous practice and high temperatures make you sweat to help you release toxins from your body while providing a full-body workout. Heat also helps to loosen your muscles, so you can theoretically get a more intense stretch.

Kundalini

Tapping into the line of energy that runs along your spine is the main purpose of Kundalini yoga. Yogi Bhajan brought the tradition to America in 1969. In a Kundalini practice, you perform many of the postures you see in hatha yoga, but you often repeat them rhythmically instead of holding them for a period of time.