24 Types Of Yoga Styles

With so many different types of yoga available today, it can be difficult to know where to begin and which style is going to best benefit your goals.

Yoga is the perfect way to push yourself whilst maintaining poise and mindfulness. Different yoga styles carry with them a different set of expertise that benefit your mind, body and soul; it’s just about finding which one is best for you.

In this article we will look at:·   

• What is Yoga?
• 24 Types of Yoga

But just before we start, if you’re looking to become a yoga instructor, get started by checking out our Level 3 Diploma in Yoga Teacher Training.

Alternatively, download our course prospectus for information regarding all of the other courses we offer here at OriGym.

What is Yoga?

Yoga is a great way to get fit through a form of ancient exercise that brings attention to your strength, flexibility and breathing technique, while additionally offering a whole range of physical benefits. 

Yoga is a practice that can improve your mental health dramatically and allow you to make the connection between physical movement and your psychological well-being. It incorporates stretching, meditation and breathing techniques to enhance your overall health.

When we look at how many types of yoga there are, the sheer amount may be a little intimidating, but don’t worry. Different styles of yoga all have slightly different focuses and benefits, so it’s important to apply your own goals when choosing. 

There is evidence that practicing yoga regularly is beneficial for people with high blood pressure, as well as those with health problems such as aches and pains that can be eased by regular exercise. This comes as a benefit of the strenuous nature of yoga; with the NHS even encouraging its involvement within the recommended 150 minutes of moderate exercise a day.

Although there are many variations, yoga overall is a mind and body practice that can enhance your lifestyle and assist recovery.

It’s also a great way to meet new, like-minded people; or maybe you are already a fanatic and want to know how much yoga teacher training costs.

So, what are the different types of yoga? Let’s find out!

24 Types of Yoga

#1 Vinyasa Yoga 

Vinyasa yoga is a great option for beginners. It is one of the many types of yoga that includes a range of different poses and postures, creating a highly versatile sequence.

Formed in the 20^th century, vinyasa yoga is based on the classical Indian yoga practice, and is often referred to as an updated version of this. Many people say it is the best type of yoga for beginners as it is not too intense and provides a really comprehensive introduction to the basics. 

Considered the most common type of yoga, vinyasa is a Sanskrit (the classical language of India) word that roughly translates into English as meaning “flow”, which is what provides the basis of the style.

The idea is that you flow from posture to posture making one continuous series of poses. Vinyasa is very balanced and you’re guaranteed to learn plenty of new asanas, also known as postures, whilst you’re doing it. 

This is one of the types of yoga that is very rhythmic and synchronises your breathing with your movements. Vinyasa yoga has heaps of benefits, and like most yoga styles, it will improve your range of movement and flexibility. In addition to this, practice will build your muscular strength and depending on how fast-paced your session is, will improve for your cardiovascular health. 

Vinyasa with its emphasis on breathing is also a real stress buster, this type of yoga is also super versatile and no two sessions will be the same. Unlike some other styles, there is no set sequence, so it is very customisable.  

This is great for both beginners who want to learn lots of new techniques, and for more experienced yoga fanatics who are looking for a different type of yoga to cater a range of different benefits.  

Sounds good to you? Check out our guide on how to become a Vinyasa yoga teacher.   

#2 Hatha Yoga 

One of the most fundamental and widespread types of yoga is hatha. This is one of the oldest yoga styles that sets the foundation for many modern variations. 

The movements in hatha yoga are deliberately slow, focusing as much on relaxation and the mind as they do the physical aspect. Hatha can refer to any style of yoga that pairs asanas with specialised breathing techniques. There is an emphasis on getting the postures as precise as possible and instructors will often offer guidance during the session to improve technique.  

This is one of the yoga styles that places real emphasis on pranayama (one of the primary types of yoga breathing exercises), as breathing control is one of the most notable features of hatha.

Pranayama is the foundation to a lot of yoga styles; if you can control your breathing, you will find entering into the rhythm of yoga a lot easier as there’s an element of meditation too. 

As one of the most relaxed forms of yoga, hatha is great for beginners. You’ll hold positions for a long period of time, meaning you’ll have plenty of opportunity to adjust yourself and get your body used to the poses. 

This is a real contrast to Vinyasa yoga with its focus on transitions between postures. Both styles can vary a lot, but it's always in your best interest to try varied types of yoga classes, this way you can adapt your style for all different forms.

Check out our article on Hatha Yoga vs Vinyasa Yoga to find out the benefits & differences of these styles.

#3 Prenatal Yoga

This one is for the ladies, for fairly self-explanatory reasons that lie in the name. Prenatal yoga is focused on helping to prepare pregnant women for the birth of their baby. There is a useful emphasis on stretching and increasing flexibility in prenatal yoga, this can be really helpful during the pregnancy before the bundle of joy arrives! 

It provides an opportunity to relax and stay fit when many other exercising opportunities are off the cards and advised against. This is due to this being one of the different yoga styles that can provide the mother with a great sense of tranquillity and peace in a time of need. 

Pregnancy can be a stressful and emotional time, so taking advantage of different yoga styles and benefits can be valuable for the new mum.

Not to forget that there is no need to worry, prenatal yoga is specially adapted for pregnant women, therefore you’ll never be doing any postures that are dangerous or impractical.

So how can prenatal yoga benefit a pregnant woman? Yoga can lower your blood pressure, and its many stretching and strengthening postures will prove useful during the birthing process; further, prenatal yoga also benefits you mentally. 

This is one of the many styles of yoga that provides a sense of serene and teaches you useful breathing techniques. It’s also a great chance to meet fellow expectant mothers and make friends in the yoga community. 

Prenatal yoga can also offset some of the side-effects of pregnancy such as aches and pains which are a common symptom; it can also ease the nausea and dizziness that can come along with the journey of pregnancy. 

 #4 Viniyoga

The name of this yoga once again comes from the Sanskrit language, “Vini” which is the Sanskrit word for “adaption”, which makes perfect sense for this type of yoga.

This yoga style was designed by Krishnamacharya, one of the most famous yoga masters, and as the name suggests, the key to this style is adaptation. This is arguably one of the best types of yoga because it is designed specifically to teach its students to adapt traditional, established yoga practises, to suit their specific strengths and limitations.  

This type of yoga offers a sense of no right or wrong. It allows the participant to master their practice in any way they deem successful and with this serious emphasis on adaptation and individuality, viniyoga does not have a standardised set of postures of practises. 

The adaptability of this yoga style makes viniyoga one of the best for beginners as it is easily tailored to any level of experience, so it’s a fantastic way to ease yourself in. 

With these styles of yoga, you can learn the basics before working your way up to more specialised techniques. It’s also great for those carrying injuries or disabilities; for example, if you have issues with a back pain, you can adapt viniyoga sessions to work around this issue. 

Viniyoga is really empowering for its students, as it teaches them everything they need to know to practice yoga individually and to feel accomplished.

 #5 Ananda Yoga

Founded in the 1960s, ananda yoga is actually a form of hatha. This is one of the styles of yoga on the list that digs into the more specialised forms with ananda having specific techniques and aims.

Ananda is a spiritual form of yoga, with people choosing it for these reasons over the physical benefits. Combining postures and the pranayama breathing techniques we mentioned earlier, this style of yoga attempts to tap into the energies of the chakras within the body.  

Ananda yoga promotes a healthy state of mind just as much as a healthy body by involving meditation and mindfulness. It is one of the yoga styles that isn’t a set sequence of postures, but rather a guideline and framework that can be built upon, and adapted by individual instructors. 

One really unique aspect of ananda is its affirmations, these are positive and encouraging statements that are whispered to oneself when practicing. Affirmations should be practical truths and their addition to the practice mean ananda is considered possibly the best type of yoga for anxiety as you affirm a change or accomplishment that you want to achieve. 

Kriyananda, the founder of the ananda style, provides some affirmations so you can see a useful example to start with:

“I leave behind me both my failures and accomplishments. What I do today will create a new and better future, filled with inner joy.” 

This is his affirmation for success and clarifies that ananda yoga is great for focusing the mind, with masses of mental benefits.

#6 Jivamukti Yoga 

Jivamukti was developed to provide a holistic style of yoga. It focuses equally on vigorous, energetic yoga, whilst also emphasising the spiritual element. It offers a great option if you want to practice yoga as a form of exercise but are also really interested in the spiritual benefits. 

This is one of the types of yoga that puts an emphasis on reading and engaging with the four central texts of yoga, these are the ancient and original methods which were written in India centuries ago. 

It can be physically vigorous, which is great for the physical health benefits, but there’s also a real focus on meditation, as chanting can be a big feature of jivamukti. Affirmation incorporation makes this one of the styles of yoga that can be a great introduction into a new way of viewing life. 

This is one of the different yoga styles that promotes a lifestyle change, incorporating veganism, environmentalism and social activism. This kind of engaging and charismatic type of yoga can assist the change into a more environmentally concerned way of living. 

Jivamukti has defined ideologies within its practice and adheres with 5 central tenets, these are:

•   Shastra (Scripture)
•   Bhakti (Devotion)
•   Ahimsa (Non-Violence)
•   Nada (Music)  
•   Dhyana (Meditation) 

With these distinct practices embedded within this type of yoga, you can become aware of the benefits that practicing jivamukti will bring you.

#7 Power Yoga 

Power yoga is one of the more contemporary types of yoga that has developed over the last few decades.

It is a general term that describes any style that is vigorous. This is one of the different approaches that has more of an emphasis on exercise as opposed to the spiritual or mental aspects.  

As you can imagine, power is the best yoga for toning and building muscle due to its vigorous movements. Being one of the types of yoga that is usually based on vinyasa, it is parallel with the style of flowing movements. 

As it’s quite a general style, power gives the opportunity for instructors to create different types of yoga classes to target certain goals and aims. This way, your classes will never be the same and can be tailored to your level of development. Have you ever thought about being the class instructor? 

The intensity of your session will vary according to the instructor, studio and class level. However, most power yoga sessions have one thing in common; they will make you work up a serious sweat and could be designated as the best type of yoga for weight loss. 

Overall, this is one of the forms that is essentially faster, more dynamic, and deals with a lot of flexibility. Not to forget that the power style is a great way to get in shape and reap all of the physical benefits of yoga. 

#8 Iyengar Yoga

This type of yoga is named after its creator B.K.S. Iyengar, and perhaps is not the best form of yoga for beginners as it places real emphasis on precision and accuracy in its postures.

Iyengar yoga also makes extensive use of yoga assets, including yoga blocks and rolls, to aid achievement of these poses. Instructors in this yoga style will be very interactive and will frequently correct and reposition faulty asanas (postures).

Postures are held for a prolonged duration and require strength and obedience. In comparison to other yoga styles, the emphasis is on quality of the posture, rather than the sheer quantity you can achieve in one session. 

There are 3 main aspects that concern a successful iyengar yoga session, these are: 

• Precision
• Sequence
• Props 

The slow and sedate nature of this yoga style might not burn much fat, but it does have a host of other health benefits. The nature of the postures may be a go-to for those who are interested in the best type of yoga for lower back pain. 

This is owing to the action of holding poses for an extended period which helps stretch out the back without any risk of damaging it further. Although this may be one of the various yoga styles that is physically challenging, iyengar is practiced in a very slow manner; this provides a good opportunity to calm the mind and feel replenished.

#9 Kali Ray TriYoga 

Kali Ray TriYoga is a unique style of yoga that is suitable for people of all ages and experiences.  

Created by yogini Kaliji, this style of yoga is largely based around a fixed unchanging set of postures and sequences. This timeless structure makes it a great choice for beginners who want to start with the basics; the sequences consist of various yoga poses, hand gestures and breathing techniques to enhance mental wellbeing and to practice mindfulness.

Kali ray triyoga also focuses on spinal alignment and incorporates movements that mimic wave-like actions, making it a good practise if you’re struggling with back pain or if you’re somebody who works at a desk and wants to work on your posture. 

There are some main aspects to kali ray triyoga, these are: 

• Unchanged routines
• Yoga poses
• Conscious breathing activities
• Hand gestures
• Flowing movement
• Beginner level poses
• Mental focus 

This is considered the best type of yoga for beginners as you can practice popular poses at home. Although this style of yoga has a set routine, your classes will vary with just the basics consisting of 108 poses. 

To compare yoga styles, this differs from #8 on our styles of yoga list (iyengar), as there is no emphasis on perfection, rather the opposite as Kaliji describes her yoga practice as something of individual success. 

She said, “The pose does not have to be perfect to have the energy start moving” and therefore, there is no pressure of perfection, but more on energy flow.  

 #10 Kundalini Yoga

Kundalini is one of the different yoga styles that claims to tap into energy reserves that are stored at the bottom of your spine, and through practice of this yoga style you activate this spiritual energy source. 

Kundalini is not the best type of yoga for beginners as it requires a lot of practise and incorporates some challenging breathing exercises. This yoga style is spiritually focused and brings attention to breathing as a technique of improving mental clarity and stability when performing this practice. 

Kundalini yoga has entered a more mainstream sphere and gained quite the celebrity following in recent years. A popular ambassador for this kind of yoga is English comedian Russell Brand. He opens up about how yoga changed his life from a history of addiction to tranquillity. So, if you’re looking for a lifestyle change and something to keep your mindfulness on track, this yoga style will be for you. 

One of these breathing exercises is alternate nostril breathing; this consists of breathing out of each nostril individually, in sequence. If you try this, you’ll realise this is pretty difficult.

If you’re somebody who loves company when conducting your yoga practice, check out the best yoga poses for two people here. 

When looking for different types of yoga and their benefits, kundalini is a real spiritual form engaged with the yoga’s Indian heritage. This yoga style has benefits that will really raise your awareness of your own body and will help relieve stress.

It’s meditative and energy-focused nature, makes kundalini one of the best types of yoga for anxiety. As well as this adherents suggest that as you tap into the energy coiled at the bottom of your spine, it may eventually lead to spiritual enlightenment.  

#11 Anusara Yoga 

Anusara yoga is another type of yoga that takes inspiration from the hatha style, it is a modern form of yoga that came about in the 1990s. 

It takes aspects of traditional yoga and adapts them into a more health focused, western orientated format. It was founded by an iyengar yoga instructor and is based on the “Universal Principles of Alignment”, a set of philosophical values which underpin the style. 

The principles are important to this yoga style, anusara preaches the philosophy that we are all ‘inherently good’ and the values give an insight into how to align your body, heart and mind, all of which encourage good health.

There are lots of different types of yoga classes but choosing anusara will place you in an upbeat and friendly atmosphere, all the while being welcomed at any level of ability.  

Whilst anusara takes a lot of its basis from the hatha style, it also incorporates key aspects of vinyasa yoga by smoothly transitioning from one posture to the next. The combination of these styles makes it perfect for those looking for an unrestricted style of yoga. 

This is one of the types of yoga that benefits you if you regularly practice as like many others, it improves the body in terms of strength and flexibility. These are great paybacks if you’re on a fitness journey or if you’re on the road to a positive natured mental health.

#12 Tibetan Yoga 

As you’ve probably guessed, this form of yoga originated in Tibet, also often called the 5 Tibetan Rites.

This ancient type of yoga is laid out in a system that is over 2500 years old, first published in 1939 in a book called The Eye of Revelation.

Tibetan combines specific types of yoga breathing with five exercises and meditation techniques, and is a type of yoga class advised for those who want a highly structured style of practise. The entire sequence only takes around 20 minutes, so it’s a good time-sensitive option.

Like kundalini yoga, tibetan aims to tap into the body’s energy or vortexes, these are what we may know as chakras. These dynamic exercises were thought to be used by monks in order to live longer, healthier lives and are still performed today to achieve the same goals. 

Like most styles, tibetan yoga can really improve health by increasing flexibility and strength in the muscles. Not only this,  promoting a sense of calm in the mind is a huge aspect and is incorporated into every session.

This is what the 5 Tibetan Rites consist of, if you have a bit of room and around 15 minutes, give it a shot! 

• Twirling (clockwise)
• Leg raises
• Dynamic Camel
• Moving table-top
• Downward dog to upward dog 

As you can tell, these are pretty basic movements and therefore are a great way to start or end your day if you have limited space or time. 

#13 Ashtanga Yoga 

One of the different yoga styles on this list has a name like no other, the Sanskrit word “ashtanga” means “eight-limbs” when translated into English. It refers to the 8 practices that were identified by yoga masters as being key to all types of yoga. 

Similarly to Vinyasa, Ashtanga movements flow from one to the other, offering a highly energetic form of yoga and one which inspires many modern exercise-based power yoga sequences. 

With so many different types of yoga practices, this one really stands out as your classes will not typically be led by an instructor. Instead the students memorise the sequence and perform it without any instruction, the instructor is then free to walk around the room correcting any faulty postures.  

Ashtanga yoga is a highly structured style so as you can imagine, this yoga style will really help your mind focus as you perform the sequence from memory. 

As ashtanga is typically intense and energetic, it has a range of physical health benefits and presents one of the best types of yoga for weight loss. Not only that, but ashtanga could perhaps be the best type of yoga for runners too, as this practice reduces blood pressure and is an enjoyable form of cardiovascular exercise. 

#14 Kripalu Yoga

Kripalu yoga was founded as a variation of hatha yoga in the 1960s and prides itself on its inclusivity and accepting atmosphere. 

This is one of the styles of yoga that provides a great opportunity for its students to explore their own relationship with yoga. 

When discussing the different types of yoga and their benefits, we have to mention the significance kripalu places on practicing its philosophies and values in your daily life, as well as in the yoga studio. 

It offers a contemporary approach to the ancient forms of yoga, making it a historic yoga style that has been adapted for modern day practice. Kripalu offers a gentle approach with an interesting history behind each movement. 

Kripalu provides a diverse, individual practise; it is often adapted to people’s needs and limitations, like age or disability - so this style of yoga has its door open for everybody. 

Whilst each class is unique, they all often begin with types of yoga breathing exercises which are typically led by an instructor who will help guide the students.

Many people say that kripalu yoga helped to boost their self-confidence, likely due to its individual approach that ensures students never have to do anything that they are not capable of. Kripalu is a gentle harmonious type of yoga but still carries plenty of physical benefits. 

#15 Tantric Yoga 

Tantric yoga, also known as tantra yoga, is an ancient form of yoga that’s been practised in India and Tibet for thousands of years. It’s another style of yoga that is spiritual-oriented and aids its students in reaching self-enlightenment. 

There’s a big philosophical element to tantric yoga, so if you’re only looking to do yoga as a workout, this might not be the one for you. However, if you are interested in the spiritual aspect, tantric is perfect and is one of the most popular types of yoga for engaging with your spirituality. 

Tantric yoga is all about raising self-awareness and unlocking energies to achieve enlightenment. Although when you compare yoga styles to this it can seem intimidating, tantric yoga is calming and is good for soothing anxiety and stress.  

This is one of the types of yoga with a different class dynamic; instructors of tantric don’t tend to explain or give direction to the students, instead they simply lead the session and emphasise that the postures are a method of getting in-tune with your spiritual energies. 

The postures you practice in tantric yoga can vary a lot, this is because the physical aspect of this type of yoga is very much secondary to the spiritual and mental part. Tantric yoga is definitely not a workout, it is very meditative and is often accompanied by chanting.   

#16 Sivananda Yoga 

Sivananda is another form of yoga that really focuses on the spiritual aspect, this is one of the styles that provides a blueprint and routine for your daily life. 

This practise attempts to provide a way of living that is as beneficial as possible to your mental and spiritual well-being. Even if you are not interested in the spiritual element of yoga, sivananda yoga is a great choice if you’re looking to live a more healthy, relaxed lifestyle. 

All sivananda yoga sessions involve the same twelve basic asana (postures). Sivananda requires that you master these postures before then adding in variations; therefore, it may be a yoga style that you build up to rather than attempting with no experience.  

The sivananda technique is based around five basic points: 

• Postures
• Types of yoga breathing
• Relaxation
• Vegetarian diet
• Meditation 

By following these five aspects, you should be able to achieve a well-balanced, physical and mental state of well-being in the eyes of the sivananda technique.  

This kind of framework makes the instructors job a lot more straightforward too by following and teaching these practices that are already laid out by history. 

# 17 Bikram Yoga

Bikram yoga is a type of hot yoga which, of course, is yoga performed in a heated environment. Hot yoga has received a significant amount of traction in recent years and has gained popularity as a type of yoga with a lot of health benefits beyond the conventional improved flexibilitity.

Bikram yoga is the most prevalent form of hot yoga and interestingly, was first designed to replicate the heat and humidity of India in cooler countries. All bikram yoga sessions consist of the same 26 postures, including two specific types of yoga breathing exercises.  

Offering one of the more unique type of yoga classes, bikram has a uniformed structure, so this can be beneficial for those who are not experienced but want to learn some new postures and techniques. 

Studios are heated to around 40 degrees and the sessions typically last around 90 minutes, so you can definitely expect to work up a sweat.

As you can imagine, this style of hot yoga has a plethora of benefits, doing postures and stretches in a heated environment will really help loosen the joints and improve flexibility. 

Bikram yoga also provides a pretty intense workout, so it’s great for burning fat.This style of hot yoga is potentially the most popular type of yoga for weight loss as it combines high temperatures with intense physical activity.  

You should allow yourself to acclimatise to the heat before you begin your session so, arriving early to your session is a good idea whilst staying hydrated for the duration.

 #18 Svaroopa Yoga 

Svaroopa yoga is another form of hatha yoga that attempts to engage and awaken the body’s natural healing capabilities.  

This is one of the different types of yoga that uses the body as a method to explore your spiritual self. It focuses heavily on relaxing the muscles at the bottom of the spine to release built-up tension there and to allow energy to flow.  

Using yoga props is a key aspect of svaroopa yoga as it releases tension, pressure and weight off of the muscles. It ultimately aids the muscles so that they don’t have to do all the work when stretching and posing. 

These types of yoga classes consist of many of the classic hatha poses, but all sessions incorporate the “magic four” postures, which form the basis of this yoga style. The magic four requires two props; a chair and a yoga block. With the assistance of these you can perform the following poses: 

• Slow-motion dive
• Crook’t knee pose
• Lunge
• Reclining spinal twist 

This style of yoga is great for people who struggle with conventional yoga postures and would benefit from the emphasis on using props to avoid injury.

#19 White Lotus  

White lotus yoga is based on the ashtanga style and attempts to unite a physical element with types of yoga breathing exercises and meditation. 

This style refers specifically to the yoga practised at the White Lotus foundation, they have studios all around the world and were founded in the 1960s. 

White lotus is one of the different types of yoga that combines poses and meditation and attempts to make them flow into one another. The providers are a non-profit organisation that perpetuate and create new yoga teachers, they provide the great opportunity to get involved with retreats. 

To begin the class, students will more often than not take part in a meditation, this grounds the students and prepares their mind, body and soul connection for yoga.

White lotus supplies one of the best type of yoga for anxiety thanks to the meditative practice being encouraged to be consistent throughout the session. 

The founder Ganga White describes the practice as:

“The most important purpose of yoga is to bring about a deep transformation of the individual – an awakening of intelligence that is free of dependencies and romantic beliefs and ready to meet the accelerating challenges of the 21^st century.” 

This style of yoga has deep beliefs that the advancement of yoga derives from being in tune with the body’s self-intelligence and intuition. This is a great choice to get involved in some of the different types of yoga and their benefits that they provide. 

#20 Yin Yoga 

A slow-paced style of yoga, yin yoga has its roots embedded in China. It has a whole range of positives for both body and mind and is great for pressing pause on a busy lifestyle. 

The name refers to the concept of yin and yang, which you may have heard of before. Yin and yang is a Taoist philosophical idea that suggests that yin and yang are opposed, but may pose a complimentary force on nature.  

Yin refers to unmoving and being static, whilst yang is the opposite, representing movement and flow. Taoism, and yin yoga suggests you need to balance these two aspects in order to reap the benefits of this practice.

Yin yoga focuses on the connective tissue in the body, as this tends to be the stiff areas that require a little help. Yin focuses on tissues, tendons and ligaments as the practice slowly and gently stretches these tissues, improving overall flexibility and strength. 

There’s also a meditative approach, as you are encouraged to be mindful and aware of your feelings and emotions at all times. This helps bring a sense of calm to the mind and is why yin is one of the best types of yoga for anxiety. 

#21 Integral yoga

Integral yoga is another gentle and relaxed form of yoga. It was founded in 1966 and was one of the first yoga styles to gain mainstream success in the West. The name comes from the goal of integrating the mind, body and spirit into one harmonious relationship. 

This kind of yoga is a system that combines the 6 divisions of yoga, this being hatha, raja, bhakti, karma, jnana and japa. This can be the best type of yoga for anxiety due to the integration of types of yoga breathing combined with the poses performed.

Not only beneficial to aid anxiety, integral yoga is the best type of yoga for beginners who are looking for a lifestyle change. This is a consequence of the teachings promoting a sense of content in its students and encouraging them to live a peaceful, non-aggressive livelihood.

Integral yoga is inspired by multiple different yoga styles but is heavily influenced by hatha yoga and is great for those who are looking for spiritual, mental benefits as much as, or more than, physical ones.

The spiritual nature of the practice is what influences the connection between body movement and peace of mind and therefore creating this religion-like yoga community. 

#22 Restorative Yoga

Relaxation is the main goal with restorative yoga. It is one of the newer forms of yoga, founded only in 1995 and is based around holding poses for extended periods of time. The aim is to hold poses without straining any part of your body, this should then allow you to relax effectively while in position for as long as possible.

Restorative yoga promotes the use of yoga aids and props to help you achieve these postures without any pain or difficulty. Holding these poses whilst feeling relaxed is key, so don’t be afraid to use yoga blocks or straps for assistance because in fact, it's encouraged. 

The poses performed in restorative yoga work to engage the nervous system which triggers a relaxation response. As you can imagine, restorative yoga is great if you’re looking for the best type of yoga for anxiety or dealing with stress and finding it hard to relax.

As one of the more inimitable types of yoga classes, restorative yoga is like no other as your tutor could have you stay in position for 5 minutes! If you’ve ever taken part in any kind of yoga, whether that be a style of hot yoga or a spiritually centred session, holding positions is hard work. 

More than anything, restorative yoga takes determination and patience, as long as you have poise and are somebody who can build up to greatness, this will be one of the styles of yoga that you will enjoy and commit to.

#23 ISHTA Yoga 

The name of this style of yoga comes from an acronym standing for “Integrated Sciences of Hatha, Tantra, and Ayurveda”, this should give you a clue as to what ishta entails and denotes. Incorporating the hatha and tantric styles, and combining different types of yoga classes into one is the main objective.

Ishta yoga tries to promote a sense of self-confidence in the student and is really focused on the individual’s ability level. Further, ishta combines the physical aspects of hatha yoga, with the more meditative and spiritual aspects of tantric yoga.  

This style of yoga really empowers its students, encouraging them to understand the different yoga techniques that have inspired ishta. Like many other types of yoga, combining physical and mental benefits is the main focus.

It is possible to have your own fun with ishta yoga and incorporate your favourite different types of yoga classes into one. If you’re looking for one of the most popular styles, this could be for you as they offer:

• Physical therapy
• Yoga poses 
• Types of yoga breathing  
• Emotional restoration 

Overall, this could be one of the best types of yoga for beginners as it is tailored to your own ability and increases your emotional awareness.  

#24 Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy 

Phoenix rising yoga therapy is one of the many different types of yoga classes that claims to have fantastic healing powers. As the therapy aspect in its name suggests, this form of yoga is pretty hands-on in terms of the assistance you get from the instructors, they will guide you on how to achieve the various postures. 

Phoenix rising combines traditional physical practises with modern psychology in order to provide a holistic healing experience. A session of this yoga style will encourage you to listen to your body, to discover any issues, and fix them accordingly. 

This style is very client centric, so the instructors will help you target anything you feel is an issue, it opens up your spiritual energy systems to allow thoughts to flow simultaneously with your movements. If you’re somebody who is spiritually in tune and makes the connection between mind and body, this could be a great option for you.

Embracing the spirit is how you will exceed expectations in your phoenix rising class, 1-2-1 sessions are also very popular with this yoga style. The intimate nature can provoke more self-awareness and lack of distraction can improve practice. 

Before You Go! 

Hopefully now you know the ins and outs of different types of yoga and their benefits which will assist you in making an informed decision on which one (or ones) are for you - we encourage trying a few out!  

Although yoga is a universal form of exercise, you can choose a specific style to suit your goals and current lifestyle and this forms the beauty of yoga and its adaptability. 

Get started with our Level 3 Diploma in Teaching Yoga or download our course prospectus to see what exactly we have to offer.