How To Find Out What Yoga Style Is Best For You

We all know that yoga can boost mood, reduce stress and improve overall health. But there are endless yoga styles and classes, so how do you know which one fits you best? Choosing the wrong yoga class can leave you bored and antsy. So take the quiz at the end of this article to see what yoga style you might enjoy.

Most Common Yoga Styles

Here we cover 11 of the most common yoga styles:

1. Hatha Yoga

Used to generally describe the yoga practice linking postures, breath, meditation and more. Haha does not mean easy, it signifies a more beginner-friendly or introductory practice.

2. Power Yoga

A vigorous and fast-paced yoga. The athletic classes are often held in a heated room. Poses differ from class to class and instructors often focus on helping students building strength and flexibility.

3. Bikram Yoga

Bikram involves 26 poses (done in the same sequence) in a heated room (95-105 degrees). This style not only promotes strength and flexibility, it’s meant to help detoxify the body.

4. Family Yoga

Built to foster a physical/spiritual bond between family members. Sequences/postures may be done individually or with partners. The room is not heated. Modifications are made for the safety of your students.

5. Yin Yoga

Poses are held for a longer period with a gentler playlist and series. Focus on mental/spiritual growth. Yin can be a stand alone practice, or used to complement more athletic classes.

6. Ashtanga Yoga

Developed and introduced to the modern world by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. Specific series of postures, each linked with breath, always done in the same order. Can be quite physically damaging.

7. Restorative Yoga

Designed to help bring peace to the mind, body and spirit. Involves extra stretching while poses are held for longer amounts of time, often using tools such as blocks, straps and bolsters.

8. Paddle Board Yoga

Practiced on a stand-up paddle-board, usually in the water. Poses are more difficult because the board is not as stable as a yoga studio floor, and students are fighting weather conditions.

9. Acro Yoga

A more extreme practice. It combines yoga and acrobatics. It is done in partners/groups. The person who stays in contact with the ground is the “base”, with the person who is elevated, the “flyer”.

10. Vinyasa Yoga

Vinyasa yoga is a series of poses that will move you through the power of inhaling and exhaling. The movements are smoothly flowing, almost like dancing.