“A photographer gets people to pose for him. A yoga instructor gets people to pose for themselves.”

–T. Guillemets

1.      Hatha Yoga

“Hatha” is a term used for yoga’s physical postures. All the types of yoga that are grounded in physical practice like iyengar and ashtanga come under this category.

Hatha yoga is the most basic form of yoga and is perfect for beginners. Hatha yoga basically requires you to hold the pose you are doing for a couple of breaths.

2.      Vinyasa Yoga

Are you an athlete or enjoy intense exercise? If yes, then this type of yoga is the perfect choice for you. Vinsaya yoga links your breath and movement together. It does so in a way that it will make you appear like you are dancing. The movements in this type of yoga are continuous and your blood will be pumped by the end of it.

3.      Iyengar Yoga

This is the perfect type of yoga for the detail-oriented people as your poses and body alignment have to be perfect in iyengar yoga. You will be using props like ropes wall, straps, blankets, and yoga blocks to assist you in motion. Each pose and posture in iyengar yoga is held for a while, so be ready for that.

4.      Ashtanga Yoga

Do you need a new way to challenge yourself? Your next project could be ashtanga yoga. Asgtanga yoga follows strict guidelines of six series of yoga poses that are designed to build internal heat.

Remember the poses you are doing – you will be doing them in the same order in your next class.

5.      Bikram Yoga

Make sure you wear something light when you are doing Bikram yoga because you will be sweating. Bikram yoga is practiced in a heated room and consists of two breathing exercises and 26 poses.

Make sure you drink plenty of water so you won’t get dehydrated. Take breaks in between if you feel dizzy or exhausted.

6.      Hot Yoga

The name says it all – hot yoga is similar to bikram yoga when it comes to heat. But you are not just bound to 26 poses in this type. You are free to move deeper and stretch your body to the limit. Make sure you don’t overdo it, though.

Written By: Elevate Nutrition Founders, Jillian Salomone and Paul Salomone