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Let’s face it, many of us who eagerly looked at yoga schedules were discouraged by the confusing number of variations of yoga there seemed to be. What we didn’t know is that all these different types of yoga actually use the same poses, or postures in different ways in order to achieve the specific results desired. Below is a basic guide to the different types of yoga most commonly seen in the west to help you find which one is right for you. most of these should be easy to find taught at your local gym, and have DVD lessons you can buy as well.

Let’s start with the two most basic and then get into the specific varieties that stem from them:

Hatha - These are good beginner classes to learn the more basic poses. They’re usually fairly laid back and relaxed with soothing music and a languorous pace.

Vinyasa - These are where the movement is coupled with focused breathing, usually warming-up with an energetic “Sun Salutation” and then winding down with more strenuous stretches.

As we look at the more specific variations of yoga, you’ll notice that quite a few are named after the people who invented them.

Kundalini - This Vinyasa form of yoga focuses on rapid movements instead of holding the same position for extended periods of time. There are sometimes chants or call and response activities included in the class, along with the usual breath control essential to the Vinyasa forms. The idea of all of this is to move the energy from your lower body into your upper body.

Bikram/Hot - This is usually known as “Hot Yoga” and was developed by a man named Bikram Choudhury. traditionally it consists of a series of 26 positions, but most classes don’t use all 26. As you might expect it is traditionally practiced in a room heated to approximately 100 degrees Fahrenheit in order to completely relax the muscles and create a cleansing sweat.

Ashtanga/Power - Normally used to help lose weight, Ashtanga involves rapid switches between movements and is quite physically demanding. In the traditional forms, each position is performed in the same order. Though Power Yoga derives from Ashtanga and has a similar quick flow to it, the pose order is not nearly as strict as tradition would dictate.

Iyengar - Named for yogi B.K.S. Iyengar, who originally taught this style, its main focus is on the correct alignment of your body. It consists of slow movements and long hold times for positions, sometimes even using other props like blankets or straps to ensure that your body is in the exact right alignment for the position.

Anusara - John Friend, the founder, created this type of yoga to diffuse some of the seriousness to other types of yoga and create something light-hearted and fun that could still benefit his students. It also combines the positive feeling of the Tantra with the emphasis on body alighnment used in Iyengar.

Jivamukti - Originally deriving from Ashtanga yoga, these classes are found for the main part only in the us and are physically strenuous. They focus on chanting, meditating, and studying the realm of the spiritual.

Siyananda - Rather than just a simple yoga class, these are actually yoga centers, over 80 of them now across the globe. they were founded by one of Swami Siyananda’s student’s and are based on five principles: The right exercise (asana), breath control (pranayama), vegetarian eating, and positive thoughts and meditation (dhyana).

Like any exercise regime, once you have chosen a type of yoga to practice, be sure to ask your doctor if yoga is right for you.