Different Styles of Yoga

Different Styles of Yoga

From Power to Yin, find the yoga style that suits you

When it comes to yoga, every teacher will have different views on the origins of the different styles of yoga. These are the styles of yoga I teach and these are my interpretations of the styles. At the end of the day, I believe yoga is here to help you turn inwards, breath, relax, move your body and ultimately, feel good. Finding the style of yoga (and teacher) you like can make all the difference when trying to develop a yoga practice. So hopefully, this will help you find the style that suits you the best! If you’re unsure what would be best for you or if you have any questions, as always, send me an email at becthomaswellness.com

Vinyasa:

Vinyasa is an athletic style of yoga, usually with a moderate pace. Vinyasa means “to place in a special way,” which in this case, it’s the placement of the asanas (postures). In Vinyasa classes, the movement is coordinated with your breath and movement to flow from one pose to another. My Vinyasa class is usually one breath per movement, for example “breathe in, cobra, breathe out, downward dog”. It’s a constant ebb and flow from one position to the next.

Power Yoga:

Power yoga is similar to Vinyasa but more dynamic and energetic. This is an athletic style of yoga, so it is good choice if you’re looking for a more physically challenging practice. The creators saw it as “gateway yoga,” where you come for a workout but end up sticking around for the deeper prospect of yoga. It was initially termed “Yoga for Athletes,” as it was targeted towards runners and athletes to help them stretch and was eventually named “Power Yoga”. I love this style as it’s a good way to get a sweat on and balance strength, cardio, endurance, flexibility, mobility and breath work. It’s your one stop shop for a workout and relaxation. Whoever said yoga was easy, hasn’t tried power yoga!

Slow Flow / Hatha:

Hatha yoga is just like Vinyasa but slower. Hatha classes are the best for beginners as they are a slower pace than other yoga styles. You will hold each asana (posture) for a few breaths rather than always moving from one position to the next. This gives you more time to get used to the correct alignment before diving into a faster-paced vinyasa or a power class. I always encourage even experienced yogis to go back to Slow Flow or Hatha regularly to revise their alignment.

Yin:

 Yin yoga is a much slower style of yoga in comparison to vinyasa or hatha. It’s mostly seated postures that are held for anywhere between 2-8 minutes (in my own classes). Yin is a very meditative practice as you are sitting in poses for a long time so it’s a good opportunity to practice mindfulness and slow down the “chatter” of your mind. When I think of yin, I think about getting deep into your stretches. However, in yin, you should let gravity do the work, it’s not about yanking or pulling yourself into deep stretches, it’s about slowly letting your body adapt.