Hatha yoga:
Traditional Hatha Yoga comprises certain moral principles, physical exercises or postures and very important breath control. The philosophy of Hatha Yoga assumes there are opposing energies such as cold and hot, female and male, positive and negative and draws parallels between them. The key of Hatha Yoga is seeking a balance between opposite energies through various physical postures called "asanas", breath control and meditation. The physical exercises are necessary to prepare the mind for meditation in the pursuit of enlightenment. Hatha yoga is one of the best yoga styles for beginners and that is why it is very popular in the West.
Karma Yoga:
is also one of the most popular yoga styles. The main principle of Karma Yoga consists in the discipline of action. Karma Yoga is the path of selfless service, of working or performing actions without seeking any reward. Most yoga ashrams have periods of "Karma Yoga" when those staying at the ashram can help with daily tasks.
Bikram yoga:
is a system of 26 postures that are performed in a standard sequence in a room heated to 100-110 degrees Fahrenheit. This approach is fairly vigorous and requires a certain level of fitness on the part of students. Bikram is done in a room with a high temperature and there is less focus on alignment, and more on sweating and getting a good workout.
Kundalini Yoga:
Kundalini yoga aims to awaken the potential energies at the base of the spine (Symbolized as a coiled snake) and direct this energy upwards through the spine and the Chakras thus bringing about increasing degrees of enlightenment. When the energy reaches the head (Sahasrara Chakra) then intuitive enlightenment is triggered.
Ashtanga Yoga:
Ashtanga is a sequence of breath and movement that produces a heat to purify the body, nervous system and mind. Ashtanga is referred to as Classical yoga. It possibly dates back as far as the 1st or 2nd Century B.C. It was compiled by Patanjali, a scholar. It consists of the eight steps or eight limbs.
Viniyoga:
This gentle form of flow yoga places great emphasis on the breath and coordinating breath with movement. Viniyoga’s flowing movement or vinyasa is similar to ashtanga’s dynamic series of poses, but is performed at a greatly reduced pace and stress level. Poses and flows are chosen to suit the student’s abilities. It teaches the yoga student how to apply the tools of yoga — asana, chanting, pranayama (control of breath), and meditation — in individual practice. viniyoga places less stress on joints and knees since postures are done with slightly bent knees. Viniyoga is considered excellent for beginners, and is increasingly being used in therapeutic environments.
Types of Yoga
Yoga is one of the biggest contributions India made to the world. It has various types and variations of yoga and these fall basically into two types, the divisions of classical yoga techniques and the many modern styles of yoga. The most important of them are discussed below.