The different types of yoga
Not all yoga classes are created equal. There’s a huge variety of yoga ‘styles’, and while all essentially rely on a series of structured poses, called asanas, brought together with breath work, it’s important to choose one that’s right for your experience and your expectations.
Here’s a brief explanation of a handful of the most popular yoga classes.
- Iyengar - A slower-paced style of yoga, close attention is paid to the detail and alignment of each posture, making it ideal for learning the fundamentals if you haven’t had a lot of experience
- Ashtanga - Using a fixed sequence of poses, this is a fast-paced, flowing and physically challenging style of yoga designed to produce an internal ‘heat’
- Bikram - Based around a series of 26 poses, the standout feature of this style is that it’s performed in hot rooms where temperatures almost hit 40 degrees
- Kundalini - This style of yoga blends chanting, rhythmic movements and breathing techniques. Designed to stimulate and move energy through the body, classes often end with relaxation, meditation and a song
- Restorative - Designed to encourage a feeling of deep rest, a class includes just four to six poses, each held passively for several minutes with the help of props like blocks and straps
You can do yoga anywhere
Attending a yoga class is a great way to practise your poses, and you can locate one by visiting
findyoga.com.au and typing in your location as well as the specific style of yoga you’re after.
But organised classes are definitely not the only way to do yoga. Yoga doesn’t typically require equipment, apart from a mat, which means you can do it anywhere –
even at your desk!
Not sure where to begin? Don’t panic. Our yoga hub features a step-by-step
yoga sequence for beginners, which takes you through five asanas, or yoga poses, that you can easily practise at home.