There are so many styles of yoga that it can be hard to know which one is right for you.

When dipping your toes into the world of yoga, the most important thing to remember is that it’s not one size fits all!

Just because your best friend and daughter love vinyasa yoga, no significa que a ti te vaya a gustar. Lo importante es experimentar con algunos estilos diferentes hasta encontrar una modalidad que te guste. ¡Y lo mejor de todo es que no tiene por qué ser un solo estilo! Puede que te gusten todos y los practiques alternativamente, y eso también está bien.

In this post, we hope to demystify some of the most popular styles of yoga to give you a better idea about where you might like to start and the style that might best suit your needs.

From hot and sweaty vinyasa to relaxing restorative yoga, there is something for everyone!

It's on Hatha yoga is a wonderful way to get acquainted with the most popular yoga poses as well as how to practice them with correct alignment - there’s nothing worse than getting injured from what should have been a relaxing hour of yoga! And familiarizing yourself with the practice by attending a Hatha yoga class is a great way to avoid that.

When practicing Hatha yoga, we tend to hold the poses for several breaths in order to focus on strength and stability. The time spent in the poses allows us to make adjustments whilst also building lots of heat in the body.

Learn more about Hatha yoga and try a beginners routine here.

Iyengar yoga

Iyengar yoga is a style of yoga created by B.K.S. Iyengar with a heavy focus on using props to practice correct alignment.

This style of yoga focuses on the physical practice of yoga and the ways in which it can benefit the body - all through precise alignment.

It is very focussed on a perfect execution of each asana (pose) so you usually do less poses in a session compared to other styles like Vintasa or Ashtanga, which are more dynamic styles of yoga. Iyengar yoga is a great option if you're looking to improve your flexibility and balance.

Vinyasa yoga

It's on Vinyasa yoga is great when you’re ready to step your practice up and a notch and are perhaps looking for a bit of a cardio-based workout. In vinyasa yoga, we move into a new position every time we inhale and exhale - meaning lots and lots of moving between poses!

This is why it’s a good idea to get familiar with the pose names and correct alignment first, it can be hard to keep up with a vinyasa class when you’re new to yoga.

And nobody wants to be the person playing catch up during a yoga class. But if that is you, just drop into Child’s Pose until you’re ready to continue.

Here you can learn more about this dynamic and physically-demanding style of yoga.

Asthanga yoga

It's on Ashtanga yoga is the practice of a specific set of poses in a predetermined sequence - think lots of sun salutations and deep hamstring stretches!

Again, you’ll want to be familiar with the main yoga poses before attending an Ashtanga class. Often a class teacher will check to make sure that you’re not new to yoga before starting as this is a very physically demanding practice.

¡No es para los corazones débiles! Pero es una práctica hermosa, y una secuencia que puede aprenderse muy rápidamente. Puedes conocer más sobre el Ashtanga yoga y sus posturas here.

Bikram yoga

The terms Bikram yoga and hot yoga tend to be used interchangeably. In essence, they are very similar - both Bikram and hot yoga are practiced in hot and humid conditions.

The primary difference is that Bikram yoga must be practiced at an exact temperature, whereas hot yoga classes can vary the heat and humidity a little.

Bikram yoga also follows a set of 26 predetermined yoga poses, whereas hot yoga classes offer a variety of different styles of yoga practiced within a very warm studio!

Kundalini yoga

It's on Kundalini yoga is a spiritual and physical practice. The practice is said to activate a spiritual energy (Kundalini energy) that resides at the base of your spine.

When we activate the energy, we allow it to travel up through the chakras in order to achieve spiritual perfection. Expect chanting, singing, pranayama (or controlled breathing practices), and poses that are repeated several times throughout the class. chakras para lograr la perfección espiritual. Es de esperar que haya cánticos, cantos, pranayama (or controlled breathing). (o prácticas de respiración controlada) y posturas que se repiten varias veces a lo largo de la clase.

You can learn more about Kundalini yoga here.

Yin yoga

It's on Yin yoga es una práctica maravillosa para trabajar las emociones, los músculos tensos y la quietud. Por lo general, el Yin yoga se practica en el suelo, con posturas que se mantienen entre 3 y 5 minutos – ¡pero a veces son hasta 15 minutos!

Yin yoga aims to create a deep stretch in the muscles and fascia.

This makes it wonderful for those trying to remove tight spots and gain a little more movement in the body - it also feels fabulous after a day of sitting in a chair!

Restorative yoga

Restorative yoga is the ultimate practice for calming the nervous system and allowing the body to return to a state of ‘rest and digest’.

In restorative yoga, you can expect to spend anywhere up to 20 minutes with the intention of completely relaxing the body.

There is no stretching done in this style of yoga, only the practice of heavily supported yoga poses - you’ll be guided into propping yourself up with cushions, bolsters, blocks, and blankets to allow you to access ultimate comfort.

Prenatal yoga

Prenatal yoga is, you guessed it, designed for women who are expecting! During a prenatal yoga class, students will be guided through poses that are both safe for the body during pregnancy and that help to prepare the body for labor.

A lot of prenatal classes include meditation and breathing techniques aimed at reducing stress - techniques that will come in very useful during labor and into motherhood!

When it comes to yoga, prenatal classes are also the safest option for women who have recently given birth.