You may have heard some of the yoga terms out there: Bikram yoga, hot yoga, power yoga, vinyasa flow, slow yoga, yin yoga. What does it all mean, and what kind of yoga should you practice? The answer is whatever type resonates with your body and fulfills your spirit. Here’s a brief guide to some of the variables you may encounter when considering potential yoga classes:
- Temperature: You can practice any kind of yoga in any temperature room. If you enjoy practicing rooms that are upwards of 90 degrees Fahrenheit, then you might want to consider taking your practice “Hot.” Most classes offered at Evolation Yoga Atlanta are available in both hot and room temperature environments.
- Hot 26 Yoga is a method that uses a fixed sequence of 26 asanas, or poses, performed twice in a 90-minute period. There are shorter Bikram classes as well, including 75 and 60 minutes. Barkan method hot yoga is also taught in a warm room environment and combines elements of Bikram and vinyasa flow.
- Vinyasa flow is a style of yoga where students coordinate their breath with their movement and flow from one pose into another. Many types of yoga are really vinyasa flow, including Power Yoga and Ashtanga Yoga. The emphasis is on fluidity of movement and the coordination of prana, or the flow of breath.
- Slow flow is the same as vinyasa flow, but it’s performed very mindfully like a meditation, with an emphasis on exploring poses more deeply and experiencing their physical effect on the body.
- Yin yoga uses passive poses to stretch various muscles in the body. Poses are held for a period of time, allowing a safe opening of ligaments, tendons and connective tissues that are not generally reached with other forms of yoga or stretching.
- Restorative yoga is a close cousin of yin yoga, and aims to restore and revitalize the mind and psyche.
Check out Evolation Yoga Atlanta’s class offerings for these and other styles of yoga available for all levels in a beginner-friendly, non-judgmental space.