Yoga Styles

Not sure which yoga style is right for you? Here’s a quick guide to some of the styles available on our site so you can start sampling. (Keep in mind many teachers draw on several styles as they teach). And here’s a little secret: you don’t have to choose just one style, although some practitioners do. Like different sports or workouts, each yoga style has its own flavor and benefits and several may work for you.

Anusara
Founded in 1997, Anusara yoga is an alignment-based practice that emphasizes students’ connection to their innate goodness and divine nature. Anusara means “flowing with grace.” Details: www.anusara.com.

Ashtanga
An athletic practice that’s inspired many other Vinyasa-style classes. Developed in India by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, these flowing classes are designed to teach nonattachment. Details: www.ashtanga.com.

Forrest
A challenging style designed to help students release physical and emotional pain and connect with their life’s purpose. Developed by Ana Forrest in the early 1980s. Details: www.forrestyoga.com.

Gentle
Not a specific style per se, but an indicator that the class is beginner-friendly or slower-moving. Even for more advanced practitioners, these classes can be perfect for low-energy days or while recovering from injuries.

Kripalu
This style encourages students to listen to their bodies and personal experiences. Designed to awaken the flow of prana, or life force. Details: www.kripalu.org.

Restorative
A slow-moving style that emphasizes relaxation and passive poses, often with the aid of yoga props. Like Gentle classes, Restorative yoga is beginner-friendly but also helpful to any student recovering from injury or in an emotional funk.

Vinyasa/Power/Flow
Includes many types of classes where students flow quickly between poses while synchronizing their breath with the movements. Vinyasa classes tend to be challenging, cardiovascular workouts. (FYI, other styles of yoga often incorporate Vinyasa-style flows in their pose sequences). On our site, look for classes with Vinyasa, Power or Flow anywhere in the title.

Yin
Unlike most physical yoga practices which focus on Yang (active, heat-building, muscular) work, Yin classes emphasize slow-moving seated, supine or prone postures. Yin yoga tends to the body’s deep connective tissues, such as fascia and ligaments, often in the lower back and hips. Yin yoga is often seen as a compliment to Yang styles.