House of AnandaMovement · Stillness · Wisdom · JourneyMovement · A guide to yoga
Many paths.
One place to begin.
Explore the names you hear in yoga: spiritual paths, teaching traditions, modern classes and specialist approaches. There is no definitive list of every type, and many of these categories overlap.
A path is not the same as a class.
Bhakti describes a devotional approach to life. Iyengar names a teaching system. Hot yoga describes a setting. Prāṇāyāma describes a family of breathing practices. Understanding the difference makes the landscape easier to navigate.
Ashtanga has two important uses: Patañjali’s aṣṭāṅga, or “eight limbs,” is a philosophical practice framework. Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is the sequence-based posture system featured in our illustrated Primary Series guide.
Each entry now links to its practice series or existing guide. Movement flows, contemplative sessions and teacher-led outlines are clearly distinguished. School-inspired introductions are not official syllabuses; specialist lesson plans are not self-guided movement tutorials. Open the complete illustrated practice library.
01 · 9 introductions
Traditional paths
Approaches to practice and life, not simply exercise classes. These categories overlap and are not one universally agreed classification.
| Path, style or practice | An introduction | Practice series |
|---|---|---|
| Haṭha Yoga | Works with posture, breath and other bodily practices in preparation for deeper meditation. Most modern posture-based yoga draws from Haṭha. | Existing complete guide |
| Rāja Yoga | Meditation and discipline of the mind; commonly associated with Patañjali’s eight-limbed system. | Contemplative practice series |
| Jñāna Yoga | Self-inquiry and discernment: exploring the nature of the self and the distinction between appearance and reality. | Contemplative practice series |
| Bhakti Yoga | Devotion expressed through prayer, chanting, ritual and loving dedication. | Contemplative practice series |
| Karma Yoga | Action and service without attachment to personal reward; a way of bringing practice into everyday responsibilities. | Contemplative practice series |
| Mantra Yoga | Repetition and contemplation of sacred sounds and phrases. | Contemplative practice series |
| Laya Yoga | Meditative absorption, often involving sound and subtle-body practices. | Contemplative practice series |
| Kuṇḍalinī Yoga | Practices concerned with awakening spiritual potential, traditionally described through subtle energy. Modern Kundalini schools vary considerably. | Teacher-led lesson outlines |
| Tantric yoga traditions | Diverse traditions involving mantra, ritual, meditation, visualisation and the body. Tantra is not simply sexual practice. | Teacher-led lesson outlines |
02 · 16 introductions
Posture-based traditions & styles
Established teaching systems and influential approaches. A school name gives useful orientation, but teachers and individual classes still differ.
| Path, style or practice | An introduction | Practice series |
|---|---|---|
| Hatha classes | Usually a steady pace, with individual postures held separately rather than linked continuously. This modern class label is narrower than historical Haṭha yoga. | Existing complete guide |
| Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga | Structured sequences linking movement, breath and gaze. The system includes Primary, Intermediate and Advanced series. | Existing complete guide |
| Vinyasa / Flow Yoga | Breath-linked movement with sequences that vary between teachers. | Illustrated movement series |
| Iyengar Yoga | Detailed alignment, carefully sequenced postures and extensive use of props. | Illustrated movement series |
| Sivananda Yoga | An integrated approach including postures, breathing, relaxation, meditation and philosophical study. | Illustrated movement series |
| Integral Yoga | Combines physical practice with meditation, breathing, devotion and service. | Illustrated movement series |
| Viniyoga | Adapts practice to the individual, with particular attention to breathing and appropriate sequencing. | Illustrated movement series |
| Desikachar / Krishnamacharya traditions | Individualised teaching integrating posture, breath, meditation and sometimes chanting; these traditions overlap with Viniyoga. | Illustrated movement series |
| Kripalu Yoga | Emphasises compassionate self-awareness and exploration of bodily experience. | Illustrated movement series |
| Anusara Yoga | Alignment-focused practice with a heart-centred philosophical approach. | Illustrated movement series |
| Jivamukti Yoga | Vigorous physical practice alongside philosophy, chanting, meditation and ethical reflection. | Illustrated movement series |
| Forrest Yoga | Strong, deliberately paced practice with sustained postures, core work and breath awareness. | Illustrated movement series |
| Dharma Yoga | A comprehensive approach combining postures, breathing, meditation and devotional elements. | Illustrated movement series |
| Scaravelli-inspired yoga | Exploratory movement focusing on gravity, the spine and releasing unnecessary effort. | Illustrated movement series |
| Shadow Yoga | Uses structured preparatory movement forms before deeper posture practice. | Teacher-led lesson outlines |
| Bihar / Satyananda Yoga | Integrates posture, breathing, meditation, cleansing practices and Yoga Nidra. | Illustrated movement series |
03 · 12 introductions
Common modern class styles
Often descriptive labels rather than separate traditions. Ask what a particular class includes instead of judging its pace or difficulty by its name alone.
| Path, style or practice | An introduction | Practice series |
|---|---|---|
| Yin Yoga | Longer, mostly floor-based holds with relatively little muscular effort. Long holds can still feel demanding. | Illustrated movement series |
| Restorative Yoga | Comfortable, well-supported positions using props, with an emphasis on rest rather than a strong stretch. | Illustrated movement series |
| Power Yoga | A strength-focused, athletic approach influenced by flowing yoga styles. | Illustrated movement series |
| Hot Yoga | Any yoga class taught in a heated room; the sequence and intensity vary. Heat describes the environment, not one method. | Teacher-led lesson outlines |
| Bikram Yoga | A particular heated format featuring 26 postures and two breathing exercises. | Teacher-led lesson outlines |
| Slow Flow | Vinyasa-style movement at a slower pace. | Illustrated movement series |
| Gentle Yoga | Lower-intensity practice with adaptable movements. | Illustrated movement series |
| Dynamic Yoga | A broad label for movement-rich, physically active classes. | Illustrated movement series |
| Alignment Yoga | Classes placing particular emphasis on positioning and technique. | Illustrated movement series |
| Yin–Yang Yoga | Combines quieter holds with more active movement. | Illustrated movement series |
| Somatic Yoga | Incorporates slow movement and attention to internal bodily sensations; methods vary. | Illustrated movement series |
| Embodied / Intuitive Yoga | Encourages exploration based on bodily experience rather than one fixed sequence. | Illustrated movement series |
04 · 10 introductions
Adapted & specialist approaches
Ways of tailoring teaching to people and contexts, rather than one shared sequence. A class label alone does not establish a teacher’s specialist training.
| Path, style or practice | An introduction | Practice series |
|---|---|---|
| Chair Yoga | Seated practice or standing work supported by a chair. | Illustrated movement series |
| Accessible / Adaptive Yoga | Adjusts practices for different bodies, abilities and access needs. | Illustrated movement series |
| Prenatal Yoga | Practice adapted for pregnancy. | Teacher-led lesson outlines |
| Postnatal Yoga | Practice adapted for recovery and changing needs after childbirth. | Teacher-led lesson outlines |
| Children’s Yoga | Age-appropriate movement, breathing, play and relaxation. | Illustrated movement series |
| Teen Yoga | Practice tailored to adolescents. | Illustrated movement series |
| Yoga for Older Adults | Adaptable classes addressing the needs and preferences of older practitioners. | Illustrated movement series |
| Trauma-informed Yoga | A teaching approach emphasising choice, consent and a sense of safety. | Illustrated movement series |
| Yoga Therapy | Individualised application of yoga practices to support health and wellbeing. It is not a single style or a replacement for medical care. | Teacher-led lesson outlines |
| Sports-focused Yoga | Practice adapted to the demands of activities such as running, cycling or swimming. | Illustrated movement series |
05 · 7 introductions
Meditation, breath & contemplation
Usually parts of yoga rather than separate posture styles. Their meanings and methods depend on the tradition in which they are taught.
| Path, style or practice | An introduction | Practice series |
|---|---|---|
| Yoga Nidra | Guided practice commonly translated as “yogic sleep,” usually undertaken lying down. | Contemplative practice series |
| Prāṇāyāma | Yogic breathing practices. | Contemplative practice series |
| Dhyāna | Meditation: sustained contemplative practice, understood differently across traditions. | Contemplative practice series |
| Japa Yoga | Repetition of a mantra, sometimes using mālā beads. | Contemplative practice series |
| Nāda Yoga | Contemplation of sound, including inner listening. | Contemplative practice series |
| Kīrtan | Devotional call-and-response chanting, often within Bhakti practice. | Contemplative practice series |
| Trāṭaka | Steady-gazing practice, sometimes using a candle flame. | Contemplative practice series |
06 · 9 introductions
Contemporary hybrids & formats
Combinations with other movement methods, or settings in which yoga-inspired practice takes place. They are not interchangeable with traditional yoga paths.
| Path, style or practice | An introduction | Practice series |
|---|---|---|
| Aerial Yoga | Yoga-inspired practice using a suspended hammock. | Teacher-led lesson outlines |
| AcroYoga | Yoga-inspired movement, partner acrobatics and sometimes bodywork. | Teacher-led lesson outlines |
| Partner Yoga | Two-person supported postures and shared practice. | Illustrated movement series |
| SUP Yoga | Yoga practised on a stand-up paddleboard. | Teacher-led lesson outlines |
| Aqua Yoga | Adapted yoga movements in water. | Teacher-led lesson outlines |
| Yoga–Pilates / Yogalates | Elements of yoga and Pilates combined in one class. | Illustrated movement series |
| Yoga Sculpt | Yoga-inspired movement combined with resistance training. | Illustrated movement series |
| Dance Yoga | Yoga-inspired movement combined with dance. | Illustrated movement series |
| Laughter Yoga | Intentional laughter exercises combined with breathing, distinct from traditional posture systems. | Contemplative practice series |