"IS THAT WARRIOR 1 OR WARRIOR 2?"

Share This Page

Deconstructing The Different Styles Of Yoga:

“I do Yoga.”

Such a blanket and somewhat…blank statement. Bandied about at parties, lunches, and workroom coffee breaks and yet we’d be willing to wager that no one really knows the difference between the various forms of the ancient practice.

via GIPHY

They say that Yoga leads to awareness, and so knowing which form of Yoga is for you, can completely change how you experience the practice and how it benefits you. Over time, yoga has spread its proverbial limbs across various forms. From fast-moving, sweat-inducing forms to slow-holding breaths and stretches, there’s a yoga style to suit every need.

Let us do the work of breaking it down.

Hatha Yoga: A general form of yoga and perfect for beginners. It focuses on posture and breathing to improve flexibility and induce relaxation in the body.
Vinyasa Yoga: Smooth-flowing, dance-like yoga, with each pose seamlessly flowing into the next. It links breath to movement and rhythm and can help enhance body awareness.
Ashtanga Yoga: A rigorous sequence of poses synced to the breath. Its pace is faster than Vinyasa yoga and it helps improve focus to align movement and breath with speed.
Iyengar Yoga: Precision and body alignment are key in this style. Since posture is essential, props like blocks and straps are often used. Achieving the perfect posture takes practice, close attention and patience.
Yin Yoga: This is a slow-paced and meditative style of yoga with a focus on holding poses for a longer period and tuning in to your mind and the physical sensations of your body.
Kundalini Yoga: It is spiritual in nature, combining breathing, chanting, meditation, and specific poses for inner peace.

"The most beautiful thing about yoga is that it meets you where you are."

And that’s just six of them. Yoga has been constantly evolving, right from the moment it all began in the Indus Valley Civilisation. This may not be something you learn in a history textbook but there are records of asanas being practised from the early days and sages. With such a long history, and so many variations, rules and discipline involved, it certainly is quite daunting to begin. Lucky for you, there are so many people here to help you take the first step.

Years of living in the pandemic have shown us that yoga can be practised just as well online as offline. You don’t even have to leave your comfort space to begin.

Join a global online community through Yoga With Adriene, providing yoga and mindfulness practices for every mood of the week and varying levels of experience at no cost.

Practice yoga with Kino MacGregor (KinoYoga) by engaging with her full-length practice sessions, beginner-friendly classes, and tutorials on meditation, Yin Yoga, Ashtanga, and nearly every yoga pose.

Build bulletproof knees and a strong core and improve mobility through Yoga With Tim and his various video playlists for you to choose from. There are no fixed hours. Do yoga at your pace and in your own time.

To add structure to your learning, Lifeyoga recently opened an immersive yoga centre in Delhi, India. Lifeyoga uses physical space and design to create a holistic experience and an immersive and meditative mood, encouraging the idea of yoga as a way of life.

Or enrol yourself in classes with yogabyvrinz for in-person, virtual, group or solo sessions for Hatha, Ashtanga, Yin and Pre/Postnatal Yoga.

Sign up for Aham Yoga’s daily live-streamed classes and tune in to their podcast for guides, insights and yoga masterclasses.

There are so many options out there but if you’re still testing the waters and want some motivation, tips and guides, check out Lululemon’s collection of community stories. Every year, there are also yoga festivals all over the world to unite people.

The community is vast and welcoming, you are not alone in the world of yoga. Yoga is simply about creating a moving meditation that brings you into the present moment. So tune into your breath and move mindfully. The best part? All you need to begin is a mat and an open mind.

Find your community and an instructor, roll out your mat (and if you need a new one, check out the best yoga mat brands in India in 2024) and start exploring. Let your intuition guide you to the yoga style that leaves you feeling stretched, centred and connected to yourself.