Yoga Forms — a field guide to the styles

A field guide

Yoga Forms

There are about 280 yoga styles, and new ones keep arriving. What follows is a clean map of the paths people actually meet: classical, studio, therapeutic, and the hybrids at the edge. Each plate is one form, one woman, one way of practising.

Classical paths

Karma Yoga

Classical paths

Karma Yoga

Gentle

Bhakti Yoga

Classical paths

Bhakti Yoga

Very gentle

Jnana Yoga

Classical paths

Jnana Yoga

Gentle

Raja Yoga

Classical paths

Raja Yoga

Moderate

Hatha Yoga

Classical paths

Hatha Yoga

Moderate

Tantra Yoga

Classical paths

Tantra Yoga

Moderate

Kriya Yoga

Classical paths

Kriya Yoga

Moderate

Laya Yoga

Classical paths

Laya Yoga

Gentle

Modern and studio

Ashtanga

Modern and studio

Ashtanga

Very strong

Vinyasa

Modern and studio

Vinyasa

Strong

Iyengar

Modern and studio

Iyengar

Moderate

Yin

Modern and studio

Yin

Gentle

Kundalini

Modern and studio

Kundalini

Moderate

Hot yoga

Modern and studio

Hot yoga

Very strong

Power yoga

Modern and studio

Power yoga

Very strong

Restorative

Modern and studio

Restorative

Very gentle

Jivamukti

Modern and studio

Jivamukti

Strong

Sivananda

Modern and studio

Sivananda

Gentle

Anusara

Modern and studio

Anusara

Moderate

Viniyoga

Modern and studio

Viniyoga

Gentle

Kripalu

Modern and studio

Kripalu

Gentle

Integral Yoga

Modern and studio

Integral Yoga

Gentle

Satyananda

Modern and studio

Satyananda

Gentle

Baptiste

Modern and studio

Baptiste

Very strong

Forrest

Modern and studio

Forrest

Strong

CorePower

Modern and studio

CorePower

Strong

Therapeutic and niche

Yoga Nidra

Therapeutic and niche

Yoga Nidra

Very gentle

Prenatal and postnatal

Therapeutic and niche

Prenatal and postnatal

Gentle

Chair and senior yoga

Therapeutic and niche

Chair and senior yoga

Very gentle

Accessible yoga

Therapeutic and niche

Accessible yoga

Very gentle

Trauma-informed yoga

Therapeutic and niche

Trauma-informed yoga

Very gentle

Yoga therapy

Therapeutic and niche

Yoga therapy

Gentle

Somatic yoga

Therapeutic and niche

Somatic yoga

Gentle

Body-positive yoga

Therapeutic and niche

Body-positive yoga

Gentle

LoveYourBrain

Therapeutic and niche

LoveYourBrain

Very gentle

Children's yoga

Therapeutic and niche

Children's yoga

Very gentle

Partner, outdoor and hybrid

AcroYoga

Partner, outdoor and hybrid

AcroYoga

Strong

Aerial yoga

Partner, outdoor and hybrid

Aerial yoga

Strong

Partner yoga

Partner, outdoor and hybrid

Partner yoga

Moderate

SUP yoga

Partner, outdoor and hybrid

SUP yoga

Moderate

Animal yoga

Partner, outdoor and hybrid

Animal yoga

Gentle

Vino and vinyasa

Partner, outdoor and hybrid

Vino and vinyasa

Gentle

Laughter yoga

Partner, outdoor and hybrid

Laughter yoga

Very gentle

Naked yoga

Partner, outdoor and hybrid

Naked yoga

Gentle

Heavy metal yoga

Partner, outdoor and hybrid

Heavy metal yoga

Strong

Circus yoga

Partner, outdoor and hybrid

Circus yoga

Strong

Other lines and schools

Ananda Yoga

Other lines and schools

Ananda Yoga

Gentle

Purna Yoga

Other lines and schools

Purna Yoga

Moderate

Svaroopa

Other lines and schools

Svaroopa

Gentle

Ashaya

Other lines and schools

Ashaya

Moderate

Katonah

Other lines and schools

Katonah

Moderate

White Lotus

Other lines and schools

White Lotus

Moderate

Prana Flow

Other lines and schools

Prana Flow

Strong

Rocket

Other lines and schools

Rocket

Very strong

TriYoga

Other lines and schools

TriYoga

Moderate

Hidden Language

Other lines and schools

Hidden Language

Moderate

Holy Yoga

Other lines and schools

Holy Yoga

Gentle

Kemetic yoga

Other lines and schools

Kemetic yoga

Gentle

Taoist yoga

Other lines and schools

Taoist yoga

Gentle

Zen yoga

Other lines and schools

Zen yoga

Gentle

Naam Yoga

Other lines and schools

Naam Yoga

Gentle

Shiv Yog

Other lines and schools

Shiv Yog

Gentle

Siddha Yoga

Other lines and schools

Siddha Yoga

Gentle

ISKCON

Other lines and schools

ISKCON

Very gentle

Art of Living

Other lines and schools

Art of Living

Gentle

Isha

Other lines and schools

Isha

Moderate

Sahaja Yoga

Other lines and schools

Sahaja Yoga

Very gentle

Transcendental Meditation

Other lines and schools

Transcendental Meditation

Very gentle

Self-Realization Fellowship

Other lines and schools

Self-Realization Fellowship

Very gentle