Yoga styles


What yoga styles are there and what does the term "yoga styles" actually mean? The variety of yoga can sometimes be quite confusing, especially for new yogis and yoginis. Here is an initial overview!
What is meant by "yoga style"?
In earlier times, various movements and traditions around the teachings and practices of yoga emerged in the country of origin of yoga, i.e. India. There is classical yoga, for example, whose central source text is the famous Yoga Sutra of Patanjali, but also tantric yoga styles.
In addition, a fundamental distinction is made between different yoga paths, such as:
- Jnana Yoga (Yoga of Knowledge)
- Bhakti Yoga (Yoga of Devotion)
- Karma Yoga (Yoga of Action) and
- Hatha Yoga (yoga of strength or effort).
Over time, various yoga masters have also created different yoga traditions in which these elements are given different weightings and in which special meditations, mantra practices and other techniques are taught.
However, yoga styles usually refer to the various forms of asana practice that have only emerged in the modern context - basically sub-forms of Hatha Yoga, to which asanas belong alongside other physical practices.
These asana-based types of yoga, which have emerged in recent times and are summarized under the term " yoga styles ", have a very strong influence on the image of yoga, especially in the West. Many people associate yoga less with the ancient Indian philosophy on which it is based and with the yoga paths mentioned above, but primarily with today's yoga styles, which have become very popular.
Modern diversity: different yoga styles
Indian yoga masters such as Krishnamacharya, Desikachar and Iyengar, but also Swami Sivananda, Pattabhi Jois and others have recently developed certain types of practice, which include special exercise sequences or sets of asanas and other special features.
Many yoga teachers beyond India have created their own styles from this in recent decades. In the meantime, an extremely diverse spectrum has emerged, which can sometimes feel like an impenetrable " jungle " - especially for newcomers, the question now arises as to which yoga style might be suitable for them and how each style differs from the others.
This is all the more true since many courses are now available online - while in the past, for pragmatic reasons, people often simply chose the nearest studio and the style of yoga offered there, we now have the whole range of styles to choose from via screen, so we are spoiled for choice.
Since the number of yoga styles is so large , you would almost need a small encyclopedia to describe them all in detail. Too much for a brief overview! As a first orientation, we will therefore first explain the characteristics by which the various yoga styles can be roughly categorized and what you can expect from the large variety of styles of modern yoga.
Yoga styles from flowing to static, from meditative to powerful and dynamic
One criterion by which yoga styles can be categorized is the division into " flowing " or static yoga styles: A distinction is made between Vinyasa Yoga with yoga flows, in which the asanas flow into one another in a link, and a type of practice in which the postures are practiced individually. A well-known example of the latter type of practice is Yin Yoga, the calm and regenerating style that has been very popular in recent years. Here, the individual asanas are held for a long time (another special feature is that it is a passive being in the posture without the use of force).
Examples of Vinyasa Yoga include Ashtanga Yoga (a very powerful style in contrast to Yin Yoga) and TriYoga. Iyengar Yoga can be practiced both statically and dynamically, and this style is also known for the frequent use of yoga props ( tools ), which can be easily combined with a static practice.
Anyone who has already gained experience knows that static yoga styles can be strenuous and strength-building, while flowing styles can also be calm and gentle.
One thing is certain: from relaxing yoga styles such as Restorative Yoga to challenging styles such as Power Yoga, the choice is immense - there is something for all needs and preferences!
Yoga styles can include other practices besides asanas
Even modern, body-focused yoga does not always only involve the practice of asanas. Some well-known yoga styles include other elements of yoga. For example, in Jivamukti Yoga, the yoga style founded by Sharon Gannon and David Life, meditation and scripture study are an important part - and the yogic principle of non-violence (Ahimsa) in particular plays a major role in this style.
In Kali Ray's TriYoga, mentioned briefly above, for example, mudras are a characteristic element, and in some yoga styles - such as Hormon Yoga developed by Dinah Rodrigues - pranayama is integrated as a regular component. In Sivananda Yoga and Satyananda Yoga, there is a particularly broad spectrum of yogic practices - here, beyond the respective asana style, one can speak of entire yoga styles, since meditation and other spiritual aspects are central here.
From hot to crossover: Other special features of different yoga styles
Among the many different styles, there are also many yoga styles with very special characteristics, such as Acro Yoga with its acrobatic elements (here you practice with a partner) or Aerial Yoga, where the asanas are performed in large cloths attached to the ceiling. Bikram Yoga, founded by Bikram Choudhury, is a little strange: This style is practiced in mirrored rooms at a room temperature of at least 38 degrees and high humidity (this serves, among other things, to increase the flexibility of the body).
Duncan Wong's Yogic Arts contains elements from martial arts, and Cameron Shayne's Budokon Yoga also contains, as the name suggests, martial arts influences. In general, several styles have been developed that combine yoga asanas or other yoga practices with elements and techniques from other traditions and backgrounds. These "crossover" styles expand the field of different styles by an entire genre.
So much for our little foray into the world of different yoga styles. There is a lot to discover and experience, and thanks to the possibility of getting a first impression of different yoga styles through video material etc., you can develop a feeling for what might suit you best and where you are drawn. Have you found your yoga style yet? We look forward to supporting you in your yoga practice with our equipment .
FAQ
How do different yoga styles differ from each other?
Even if the term "yoga styles" is only used to refer to modern, asana-based styles, there are some distinguishing features within the large variety. From fast and dynamic flows to meditative vinyasas to individual, more "static" practice of asanas and to holding asanas for a particularly long time (cf. Yin Yoga), different forms have been differentiated - some of them also contain styles that originally come from other practice styles (AcroYoga, Budokon Yoga, etc.).
What are today’s yoga styles based on?
The styles of asana practice that are popular today go back in particular to the Indian yoga master Krishnamacharya (1888 to 1989) and his students Desikachar, Iyengar and Pattabhi Jois, but also to Swami Sivananda and others. The actual roots, however, lie much further back in time. Asanas, for example, are described in detail in the Gheranda Samhita. Even finds from the Indus Valley culture of the Bronze Age suggest an asana practice.
How do I find the right style for me in the huge variety of yoga styles?
Thanks to the numerous online offers and the possibility of gaining initial impressions via video on social networks or platforms such as YouTube, you can get a taste of different styles and, on this basis, decide which courses you would like to attend in order to get to know the respective styles better. Ultimately, it mostly depends on your own dispositions as well as on the respective yoga teacher where you feel most at home.