Yoga styles - From deep relaxation to pure exertion

Yoga is an Indian philosophical teaching, which focuses on body and mind. It is interpreted differently andis constantly evolving. To help you find the perfect style of yoga for you, or maybe just a new style you could try on vacation, we're showing you below the 10 most popular and well-known styles of yoga and 5 slightly different forms of yoga you may not have heard of.

Yoga consists of several components, including:

Asanas (the postures or exercises)
Pranayama (the breathing exercises, which are to bring body and mind together)
Pratyahara (the sensing of the senses)
Dharana (the concentration)
and Dhyana (the meditation)

All yoga styles combine these components, but focus on them differently. Some styles are very slow and static with long holding of the asanas and strong focus on breathing. Others are very in flow, fast paced with alternating exercises and only very meditative at the end. While everything is united under the term "yoga," yoga styles can vary greatly. Also, each yogi has different demands and expectations of yoga. Especially for beginners, it is difficult to discover the right yoga form for themselves.

The 10 most famous and popular styles of yoga

Hatha Yoga

Hatha yoga is one of the most popular forms of yoga and is the root for many yoga styles developed from it. Hatha yoga is much about the balance of body and mind. This is accomplished through asanas, breathing exercises, and meditation. This classic yoga style is therefore rather slow, but still powerful.

Yin Yoga

Yin yoga is a very quiet form of yoga, but it should not be underestimated. Here you will have to hold the positions for a very long time, for several minutes. Despite the few changes of asanas, Yin Yoga can become very strenuous, but achieves deep relaxation and a very meditative state.

Kundalini Yoga

If you prefer something more spiritual, Kundalini Yoga might be for you. It is a dynamic form of yoga whose goal is to release and activate energy. The breathing and meditation play a special role in Kundalini Yoga.

Vinyasa Yoga

Vinyasa yoga focuses on the combination of breathing and moving, which is why it is very strong in flow. It is dynamic and flowing, which means that the exercises flow directly into each other and there is no pause in between. Vinyasa yoga has no fixed sequence of asanas. Therefore, each class can vary.

Ashtanga Yoga

Ashtanga Yoga is similar to Vinyasa Yoga strongly influenced by flow, but always has the same sequence of asanas, which are practiced precisely and consciously. It is very intense and the strong breathing as well as the dynamic exercises make Ashtanga Yogavery sweaty.

Bikram / Hot Yoga

At a room temperature of about 40 degrees Bikram Yoga is performed, which is why it is also called "Hot Yoga". Bikram yoga involves a series of 24 asanas and 2 breathing exercises, which is very strenuous at these temperatures. This sweaty and intense form of yoga is not for everyone because of the high temperatures.

Iyengar Yoga

Accuracy andprecision are writ large in Iyengar yoga. It's all about focusing on problem areas or ailments of the body. In order for you to perform the precise asanas well, Iyengar yoga allows you to work a lot with assistive devices. These include yoga blocks, chairs or yoga straps.

Aerial Yoga

Here, Hatha Yoga is practiced in a playful way with cloths hanging from the ceiling, with which you perform the asanas together and thus partly doing yoga in the air. Although aerial yoga has playful features, it is no less strenuous.

Anusara Yoga

Anusara Yoga means "following the call of the heart", which is why the exercises place a lot of emphasis on how you feel from the inside. It is a modern form of Hatha Yoga, therefore Anusara Yoga is practiced similarly slowly and with care.

Jivamukti Yoga

This very dynamic and intense form is accompanied by music and is very spiritually influenced. It is not only about mindfulness for oneself, but also towards one's environment. Therefore, Jivamukti yoga also has a strong focus on meditation.

At a glance: All 10 yoga styles in direct comparison

Yoga Styles	Flow: static to dynamic ⚫ - ⚫⚫⚫	Intensity: calm to exhausting ⚫ - ⚫⚫	Direction: traditional to modern ⚫ - ⚫⚫⚫	Spirituality: low to strong ⚫ - ⚫⚫⚫	Beginner Friendliness: low to strong ⚫ - ⚫⚫⚫
Yin Yoga	⚫	⚫⚫	⚫⚫	⚫⚫
Hatha Yoga	⚫	⚫⚫	⚫⚫
Kundalini Yoga	⚫⚫	⚫⚫	⚫⚫⚫	⚫⚫
Vinyasa Yoga	⚫⚫⚫	⚫⚫	⚫⚫	⚫⚫	⚫⚫
Ashtanga Yoga	⚫⚫⚫	⚫⚫	⚫⚫	⚫
Jivamukti Yoga	⚫⚫⚫	⚫⚫⚫	⚫⚫⚫	⚫⚫
Iyengar Yoga	⚫	⚫⚫	⚫	⚫⚫
Bikram/Hot Yoga	⚫⚫⚫	⚫⚫	⚫⚫	⚫
Aerial Yoga	⚫⚫	⚫⚫	⚫⚫	⚫⚫
Anusara Yoga	⚫⚫	⚫⚫	⚫⚫⚫	⚫⚫	⚫⚫

Was there something for you here? We offer all kinds of yoga styles that you can practice in a dream yoga retreat . Deepen your previous knowledge or just try something completely new. Whether for advanced or beginners, the certified yoga instructors in our hotels cater entirely to your level of knowledge.

5 special yoga styles you may not know yet

Doga - Yoga with dogs

Doga is a combination of the words dog and yoga. It is not for every dog, but if your dog is a bit calmer, then it might be something for you. The contact and touch with the sensitive four-legged friends is a nice experience, which can bring peace to both parties. So why not try the dog looking down together?

Laugh Yoga

When laughing, happiness hormones are released. These have a mood-lifting effect and thus result in a lowering of the stress level. This is made use of in laughter yoga. The positive effect of deep breathing during laughter is used here for relaxation.

Nude yoga

Naked yoga has a particularly positive effect on personal acceptance and self-love. Clothing can limit you in your mobility. In Naked Yoga, the complete focus is on body and mind. In principle, naked yoga is not a separate style of yoga, because any form of yoga could be practiced naked.

Beer yoga

Beer yoga is probably the newest yoga style in our list. Here, the asanas are practiced with a beer in the hand or otherwise included in the exercises. Of course, in between times a sip is drunk.

Goat yoga

This is also a style of yoga that does not take itself too seriously. Here you first get to know the goats outside on fresh meadows and then yoga is practiced. There you must have but no fear of contact with animals, because the goats start between, but also on the Yogis around jump and climb.

FAQ - Our tips on yoga styles

Which style of yoga is right for me?

That all depends on your yoga requirements. If you want to really work up a sweat, then Ashtanga, Jivamukti, Vinyasa or Bikram yoga might be right for you. If you prefer something more relaxed, then Yin Yoga, for example, is ideal.

Which style of yoga is suitable for pregnant women?

There are now more and more offers for Prenatal Yoga, in which asanas from different styles are combined with each other. Otherwise, Hatha and Kundalini Yoga are also very suitable. From too strenuous types, such as Bikram Yoga, you should better distance yourself.

Which yoga style is suitable for beginners?

In principle, any style of yoga is suitable for beginners, it only offers some more to have prior knowledge. The easiest way to start is classically with Hatha Yoga.