Flavors of Yoga

Have you ever been asked, “What type of yoga do you practice?” and answered, “I don’t know, it’s yoga.” You’re not alone. While yoga is yoga is yoga, there are many different types (or flavors) of yoga readily available to you. Below are brief descriptions of the primary types of yoga offered at “mainstream” studios.

Vinyasa — Vinyasa is the blanket term used to describe yoga classes that offer yoga flow. Rather than holding one pose and workshopping or fine-tuning that one pose, vinyasa classes flow from pose to pose with a focus on the breath. Most vinyasa classes are rooted in ashtanga (see below) and will include most, if not all, of the following components: sun salutations, twists, standing poses, balancing poses, heart openers, and hip openers.

Ashtanga — Ashtanga is the original vinyasa yoga. Ashtanga follows a set sequence of poses and has a primary, intermediate, and advanced series. An ashtanga practice moves in accordance with the breath — one pose/one breath. The ashtanga series are physically demanding and assists from a seasoned instructor are to be expected.

Yin — While vinyasa focuses on movement, yin focuses on stillness. The purpose of yin yoga is to stretch the connective tissue through holding postures for 3–5 minutes. Yin incorporates bolsters, blocks, and blankets for added support. Most yin poses are practiced on the ground with the practitioner rarely standing up, if at all. Yin is practiced at room temperature.

Restorative — Restorative yoga is related to, but not the same as, yin. Restorative yoga is intended to soothe, to nurture, and to heal the nervous system. Through the use of…

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By Liz Skarvelis; All Rights Reserved @2018