Types of Yoga Classes
Ashtanga yoga was created by an Indian man called Sri K. Pattabhi Jois who developed the practice focusing on the 3rd limb of yoga which is asana (pose). He believed that by practising the sequence of postures he developed that the 7 remaining limbs of Yoga would be realised.
As American yoga matures, interest in bhakti yoga has exploded. The Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California, holds an annual bhakti festival, and Yoga Tree in San Francisco hosts the Bhakti Yoga Sunsplash, a celebration with music.
Bikram Yoga is a system of yoga that Bikram Choudhury synthesized from traditional hatha yoga techniques It became popular in the early 1970s. All Bikram Yoga Beginning Series classes run for 90 minutes and consist of the same series of 26 postures, including two breathing exercises.
Hatha classes are a good place to work on your alignment, learn relaxation techniques, and become comfortable with doing yoga while building strength and flexibility. Hatha Flow Classes Just to confuse things, some studios throw something called Hatha flow into the mix.
Hot yoga is a vigorous form of yoga performed in a studio that is heated to 105 F (40 C) and has a humidity of 40 percent. The formal name for hot yoga is "Bikram yoga." Bikram yoga is a 90-minute program that consists of a series of 26 postures.
Iyengar Yoga was named after and developed by B.K.S. Iyengar who was a direct disciple of T. Krishnamacharya. They, together with Patabbhi Jois (who developed Ashtanga Yoga) and a few others, were responsible of bringing the practice of modern yoga (as we know it now) to the West.
Jnana (wisdom or knowledge) is considered the most difficult of the four main paths of Yoga, requiring great strength of will and intellect. In Jnana yoga, the mind is used to inquire into its own nature and to transcend the mind’s identification with its thoughts and ego.
Most yoga studios offer Karma yoga classes at a discount price or by donation that supports a local charity or cause seeking funding. The styles of yoga taught may vary depending on the teacher and students who attend the class.
Kundalini Yoga is a blend of Bhakti Yoga (the yogic practice of devotion and chanting), Raja Yoga (the practice of mediation/mental and physical control) and Shakti Yoga, (for the expression of power and energy).
Raja Yoga (Sanskrit: राजयोग, Rāja Yoga) - Yama - Self-Control, Niyama - Discipline, Asana - Physical Exercises and, Pranayama - Breath Exercises,...
Rather, restorative yoga is intended to take the mindfulness that is found in all disciplines of yoga to the next level. It’s still and slow, and it’s as much (or more) about the mind as it is the body.
In vinyasa yoga classes, students coordinate movement with breath to flow from one pose to the next. Ashtanga, Baptiste Yoga, Jivamukti, Power Yoga, and Prana Flow could all be considered vinyasa yoga.
What is Yin Yoga. Yin yoga is the perfect compliment to our yang style of yoga practice. Yang yoga practices include popular techniques such as vinyasa flow, ashtanga, power yoga and even hatha. Yin yoga is a very passive approach to yoga where you perform the majority of the poses seated on the floor or laying down.