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STYLES OF YOGA BY IJY STAFF
Looking over the class schedule at your yoga studio may leave you a bit confused. There are many styles of yoga. If you’re not quite sure which yoga vibe is best for you, check out these explanations of the most popular styles to help you decide: ASHTANGA YOGA
HOT YOGA
Ashtanga is a rigorous style of yoga that follows a specific sequence of postures and links every movement to a breath. Ashtanga always performs the exact same poses in the exact same order. There is no music played in ashtanga classes. The repetitive nature of the poses allows you to achieve a meditative state.
Who might like Hot Yoga: If you like to
The word “Ashtanga” means “eight limbs”— some of those "limbs" include postures, breathwork, concentration, and meditation. The purpose of Ashtanga is to “build heat in the body in order to clear the mind.”
Who might like Ashtanga: If you enjoy
consistent, structured flow, and are looking for a physically demanding practice that allows the mind to reflect, ashtanga may be the class for you!
HATHA YOGA
This practice is all about the basics. A class in Hatha yoga will give you an introduction to the most basic yoga postures. You probably won’t work up a sweat in a hatha class, but you should end up leaving class feeling more loose, more focused and more relaxed.
Who might like Hatha Yoga: If you want a
more “traditional” yoga experience, or are trying yoga for the first time, Hatha yoga may be the yoga for you!
“Hot Yoga” is a term that describes many different styles of yoga, but all share one common element — they are all practiced in heated rooms. Hot yoga classes will typically take place in rooms heated between 85 and 105 degrees. The heat helps prepare the body for movement and remove impurities through sweat.
VINYASA YOGA
Vinyasa classes are known for their fluid, movement-intensive practices. Vinyasa teachers sequence their classes to smoothly transition, with inhalations and exhalations, from one pose to the next. The intention is to link breath to movement. Instructors will often use music in the class to assist with the flow. But unlike Ashtanga, no two vinyasa classes are the same.
“sweat it out” and burn calories, “Hot Yoga” is the yoga for you. Caution: The intensity of the workout and the hot room temperatures have the potential to cause heat-related illness. Make sure you stay hydrated!
Who Might Like Vinyasa Yoga: Anyone who enjoys a more active practice and craves variety in their yoga classes will like Vinyasa yoga. If you hate routine and love to test your physical limits, vinyasa may be the class for you!
KUNDALINI YOGA
YIN YOGA
This style is often referred to as the “yoga of awareness.” Kundalini focuses on internal experience: thoughts, emotions, and sensations. This is accomplished by challenging both your mind and body with chanting, singing, meditation, and physical postures. A typical kundalini class starts with a mantra (a focus for the class), includes breathing exercises, warmup postures, followed by focal exercises, and ends with deep relaxation and meditation. Who Might Like Kundalini Yoga: Anyone
who is in search of a physical, yet also a spiritual practice—or who likes singing and chanting—should check out Kundalini yoga.
“Yin Yoga” is a slower style of yoga. Each pose is held for several minutes with the goal of targeting the deeper connective tissues and fascia, in addition to your muscles. This practice focuses on the hips, lower back, and thighs, and uses props like bolsters, blankets, and blocks to let gravity do the work. While other forms of yoga focus on the major muscle groups, yin yoga targets the body’s connective tissues. Who Might Like Yin Yoga: Those who need to stretch out after a tough workout, or anyone interested in a slower-paced practice will like and benefit from Yin yoga. Yin yoga honors stillness and is a great balance with a Vinyasa flow practice.
For more styles and explanations of different types of yoga, please visit our web site at: IJYConnects.com/yogastyles 12 IT'S JUST YOGA MAGAZINE | CENTRAL FLORIDA | SPRING/SUMMER 2021
