An Overview of Yoga Styles and Schools

Ideally you should choose a style of yoga, then choose a teacher that has a class in that style, then a class at the right level for you. However, if you are new to yoga you won’t know which style you want and if you don’t know any local teachers you won’t know which one to choose. To start with, it may be simpler to try out a class that just happens to be convenient in terms of time and location.

Selecting a teacher is always best done by trying out a lesson. You should take the time to ask about their teaching style and qualifications.  Most schools of yoga have a defined style or approach to yoga teaching - for example, Iyengar, Bihar and Ashtanga Vinyasa all are highly prescribed.

The following information provides an overview of yoga styles, systems and related styles of body and energy work.

Agni Yoga: Literally meaning 'fire' Agni yoga is a synthesis of several other yogas, principally Raja yoga, Karma Yoga and Bhakti Yoga

Astanga Vinyasa Yoga: Based on the asana limb of Astanga Yoga, it includes joining postures called Vinyasa, and there is usually a fairly rigid sequence of postures executed with pranayama (breath) and bandhas (muscular locks for the retention of prana)

Astanga Yoga: Means 8-limbed yoga path as described in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: Yama (moral code), Niyama (self-purification), Asana (postures), Pranayama (breath control), Pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses), Dharana (concentration), Dhyana (meditation) and Samadhi (enlightenment).

Bhakti Yoga: The Yoga of Love and Devotion. The favorite yoga of the Indian masses that focus on particular Hindu gods (typically Krishna). St. Francis of Agassi was probably practicing Christian Bhakti Yoga.

Bihar School of Yoga: Founded in 1963 by Swami Satyananda Saraswati in Munger, India - it provides hatha yoga as defined in their book 'Asana, Pranayama, Mudra, Bandha'

British Wheel of Yoga: No specific style or school belongs to the British Wheel of Yoga (BWY). It is very open and receptive to all forms of yoga.

Dru-Yoga: Promoted by LFST - Life Foundation School of Therapeutics - that originated at Bangor University in North Wales in the 1970s by Dr Mansukh Patel and John Jones. It is distinctly spiritual and focuses on Body Heart Mind Technology, Energy Block Releases and beautiful flowing sequences of movements and mudras with the body and breath.

Dynamic Yoga: See Astanga Vinyasa Yoga. Dynamic Yoga is a variation pioneered by Godfrey Devereux

Hatha Yoga: From the sanskrit words 'Ha' (Sun) and 'tha' (Moon), it is the primary yoga type found in the West with a focus on asana (postures), purification and breath for health and union of the body, mind and spirit.

Integral Yoga: Integral Yoga is a synthesis of yogas to develop all aspects of personal growth and includes raja yoga, japa yoga, hatha yoga, karma yoga, bhakti yoga and jnana yoga.

Iyengar Yoga: A school of hatha yoga with its own teacher training that focuses on stronger yoga postures with emphasis on alignment. Blocks, bricks and belts are often used to get alignment and 'perfect' posture.

Jnana Yoga: From the 8-limbed path of Astanga yoga, Jnana is the path of spiritual knowledge and wisdom through study and meditation to discard the illusory. 'Neti neti' - not this, not that and 'Who am I?' are jnana yoga tools.

Karma Yoga: The path of selfless service. As Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita 'Whoever lets go attachment to the fruits of his actions, and instead dedicates his actions to God, is not touched by sin, like the lotus leaf is not touched by water'.

Kriya Yoga: This is a form of hatha yoga promoted by Goswami Kriyananda, who founded the Temple of Kriya, after the teachings of Babaji. It combines the 8 limbs of astanga yoga with astrology linked to the chakras.

Kundalini Yoga: This is hatha yoga with an emphasis on awakening the kundalini energy, normally lying dormant at the base chakra, through severe practices of breath retention and meditation.

Laya Yoga: See Kundalini Yoga

Mantra Yoga: Spiritual development through the use of repetitive sounds, which may be sub-vocalized as in Transcendental Mediation. Rhythmic repetition of a mantra like 'Om' is called japa. There are many mantras, some focused on a god, but even the sanskrit alphabet is believed to be effective in stilling the mind and moving closer to samadhi.

Meditation: Typically seated with an erect spine, meditation forms the core yoga of ancient times and should be a part of every yogi's practice. It aims to calm the perturbations of the mind to allow the true nature of the mind, the self and the universe to reveal itself in a state called enlightenment, self-realization or samadhi.

Power Yoga: See Astanga Vinyasa Yoga. Power Yoga is a variation pioneered by Beryl Bender Birch

Pranayama: One of the 8 limbs of Astanga Yoga. It is a set of techniques to work with subtle energy or prana through the breath.

Raja (or Royal) Yoga: 'Royal' as you become ruler of your mind, raja yoga works upon the mind refining and perfecting it and through the mind on the body. Most people end up combining hatha yoga, focused on the body and breath, with raja yoga.

Sahaja Yoga: Literally meaning 'born with you', sahaja yoga works on de-conditioning the mind so that self-realization is achieved, kundalini energy rises and the light of divine love emanates out to others.

Sapta Yoga: This is Hatha Yoga based on the classical text the 'Gheranda Samhita', and is taught at the Patanjali Yoga Center in Katmandhu, Nepal.

Siddha Yoga: Siddha Yoga Meditation has the goal of self-realization through meditation, chanting, contemplation, study and selfless service (karma yoga). It is based upon Vedanta and Kashmir Shivaism.

Surat Shabd or Nada Yoga: This form of yoga connects the soul to the universal consciousness through the use of meditation and sound (shabd) and is of Sikh origins, based on the texts of Sant Kabir. Eckankar is a similar following.

Tai Chi: This is a form of moving meditation based upon a self-defensive martial art created by a Taoist monk from China about 800 years ago. Tai Chi must be practiced mindfully and provides a high degree of awareness and tranquility.

Tantric Yoga: Becoming enlightened through the opening up of the chakras to allow the prana to move up the sushumna is a general yogic goal. Tantric yoga achieves this through the power of sexual energy on the basis that it is natural and loving and so cannot be contrary to God.

Transcendental Meditation: This is a form of mantra meditation created for westerners by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Two 20-minute meditations per day to create a calmer mind with many benefits including creativity and eventually siddhis.

Vini Yoga: The Viniyoga tradition is a form of hatha yoga that avoids mere mechanical practice of asana but adapts to the body's current condition through self-awareness - rather like the Alexander Technique - and release habitual stress patterns in the body.

Yantra Yoga: With the use of sight and form upon which to contemplate, Yantra Yoga aims to calm the mind to allow the true self to shine through. Mandala patterns are also yantra.

Yoga of Synthesis: A synthesis of karma yoga, bhakti yoga, jnana yoga and raja yoga. Yoga of Synthesis is also another name for Arhatic yoga which uses a systematic method to awaken kundalini and activate the chakras, rather like kundalini yoga.

Text provided courtesy of Don Kent and Don's Yoga.

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