There are many different styles of yoga, but most are rooted in hatha yoga,
yoga's physical discipline that concentrates on developing control of the body
through asanas or poses.
In Sanskrit, "ha" symbolizes the sun and "tha" symbolizes the moon. "Hatha"
represents the duality in life – yin and yang, masculine and feminine, darkness
and light. It leads the way to balancing these opposing forces. It is the yoga
of physical well-being.
Ashtanga
For those seeking a serious workout, ashtanga offers a fast-paced series of
sequential poses. Participants transition from one pose to another in a
continuous rhythm and link their movements with their breathing.
Anusara
Anusara (pronounced ah-new-SAR-ah), or "following your heart," has been
deemed as the heart-oriented style of yoga, combining the celebration of the
heart, universal principles of alignment, and balanced energetic action in the
performance of asana. In this discipline of yoga, each student's abilities and
limitations are deeply respected and honored.
Ananda
The emphasis of this yoga style is meditation. This gentle yoga combines
breath awareness, affirmations, and yoga postures to transition from body
awareness through energy awareness to silent, inner awareness. The use of
affirmations while in the asanas is a distinct feature of ananda yoga.
Bikram
Bikram, a series of 26 anandas, is practiced in elevated room temperatures of
up to 100 degrees; so profuse sweating is a sure outcome. It is designed to warm
and stretch muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
Integral
Integral distributes its emphasis equally between breathing control,
meditation, and asanas. Its purpose is therapeutic and is used in such cases as
in those afflicted by heart disease.
Iyengar
This style of yoga is most notable for its precise alignment of posture and
great attention to detail. The yoga poses are held longer and repeated multiple
times.