Which Yoga Is Right For You?

Use our chart to find the form of yoga that suits your needs and temperament.

Hatha Yoga Styles
Ashtanga "X-treme" yoga		Let's Get Physical This yoga style, which features fast bursts of movement, provides an intense workout. It's definitely not for beginners. In fact, it's generally recommended for those under 35--maybe 40 if you're a serious athlete or professional dancer.
Bikram's For the young & fit		The "Hottest" Yoga Around If you want to play it cool, then try another yoga school. This one is rigorous, with sessions moving through 26 poses twice, in studios where the temperature hovers around 110 degrees.
Iyengar Perfec- tionist's delight		The Jesuit Yoga If you like precision and discipline, then this is your yoga home. Founded by BKS Iyengar, the method has received criticism for being too "gymnastic" and focused on technique. Others say Iyengar is simply more of a purist, traditional style of practice.
Kundalini Caution: high voltage		Serpent Power The main goal of Kundalini yoga is to raise the energy at the base of the spine, sometimes referred to as the serpent power, to the crown chakra through breathing, sound, and hand positions. The energy is powerful and without proper guidance can cause physical and emotional problems.
Power Yoga Intense workout, good for athletes		A Kinder, Gentler Yoga K. Pattabhi Jois developed Ashtanga yoga, which has been described as "a workout that can change your life if you can survive it." For that reason, some yoga teachers, trained by Jois, created this racheted-down style, giving the boot to the boot-camp drills of the original.
Kripalu Gentle approach yielding flexibility & strength		Devotion in Motion The hallmark of this school, developed by Amrit Desai, is a spontaneous transitional flow between postural alignment, breathing, and meditation. This style also spawned Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy, a holistic body-centered method that combines supported yoga postures with therapeutic dialogue techniques.
Anusara The easy listening yoga		Going With the Flow Anusara yoga combines a Tantric philosophy of intrinsic goodness and a method of physical alignment called "Universal Principles of Alignment." Students are encouraged to step into the flow of grace, be playful, and offer prayers for more beauty, love, and goodness in the world.
Sivananda & Integral For the spiritual seeker		Going Home Both of these yoga styles emphasize chanting the universal Eastern mantra that is said to evoke within the practitioner Brahman, or God.
Viniyoga good for all ages and fitness levels		Customized Yoga A gentle, balanced yoga, the main thrust of which is tailoring a practice--using postures, breath, meditation, ritual, and prayer--to the needs of individual practitioners.

Related Posts by Category