Yoga is more than 5,000 years old and during this time, many different physical styles have been developed.
Students entering into yoga sometimes find this confusing. What does the style name really mean? Is this the style for me?
It's important to understand that every one of these styles work toward the same end - to keep the body strong, healthy and free from aches and pains so the student may concentrate on the more important pursuit of enlightenment.
All styles are based upon the same physical postures or asanas.
So what makes them different?
Their emphasis.
Here's a little help in decoding a number of these styles so you can choose the one most appropriate for you.
Hatha yoga: The classic form of physical yoga from which all other physical styles evolved.
If a class is a true hatha style, it is suited to all levels. It will be slow-paced and gentle while still allowing the student to be quite challenged.
Ashtanga: A fast-paced intense style of yoga. A set series of 42 poses is performed, always in the same order. It also offers a cardiovascular challenge to students. This is not appropriate for students with cardiac issues or who are pregnant.
Power yoga: Based on ashtanga, power yoga allows more freedom in the sequencing of poses. It is also called athletic yoga.
Iyengar: An alignment-based yoga with extreme focus upon precise movements. There is often heavy use of props such as blocks, straps, bolsters, etc. in this style. There is also emphasis upon holding poses over long periods of time.
Bikram/Hot yoga: A set series of 26 poses, practiced in a 35-38 C room. This extreme heat allows the body to loosen, sweat and thus detoxify. This is not appropriate for anyone suffering from cardiac issues, high or low blood pressure, asthma, lupus, glaucoma, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, who are pregnant or pre-pubescent students.
Kundalini: This style emphasizes not so much the physical postures as the pranayama or the movement of breath as the body moves through the poses.
This is done in order to activate energy at the base of the spine and cause it to rise up the body.
Kundalini uses rapid, repetitive movements rather than holding poses for a long time. The teacher will often lead the class in call and answer chanting. This is not appropriate for students with acute asthma or cardiac issues.
Kripalu: Also called the yoga of consciousness, kripalu emphasizes proper alignment, movement of breath and honoring the wisdom of the body.
A kripalu practice takes place in three stages: 1. Learn the postures, proper breathing and explore the body's ability; 2. Hold the postures for extended periods of time; 3. Meditation in motion (movement from one posture to the next arises unconsciously while in a meditative state).