Weird and Wonderful Types of Yoga

I can't believe it's been 3 years since I originally reviewed thisstrange and wonderful types of yogahere on the blog. There are some new additions and some firm favorites that are just as popular.

I believe that yoga is for everyone and there is a style of yoga for all of us. Are you ready to learn more about yoga and discover and believe all the hype? You have seen many exotic and unknown titles describing yoga like “Power” and “Rocket” Yoga. I can assure you that these are not types of cars or vegetables, but different types of yoga.

Let's see how some of the traditional yoga styles have evolved:

Vinyasa

This type of yoga is characterized by the fact that the postures are effortlessly and seamlessly linked together to form a flowing movement with the breath. Also known as “flow” yoga.

Vinyasa means moving with the breath, which is the core of the class.

I love Vinyasa and it forms the core of the classes I teach and practice. This allows me to adapt the class to my students.

I love that these classes offer a variety of postures and invariably no two classes are identical. The importance that breath plays in this practice is clear. Remember, if you don't breathe, then it's not yoga.

Donna Noble

Power yoga

Power Yoga is an offshoot of Ashtanga Yoga and has many of the same qualities and benefits. These include: building internal warmth, increasing endurance, strength and flexibility, and reducing stress.

This type of yoga was designed to make flow yoga more accessible to more people.

I love that Power Yoga has made the Ashtanga series more accessible, bringing this great practice to a wider audience.

Donna Noble

Rocket yoga

Rocket Yoga, also known as “The Rocket,” is a style of yoga developed by Larry Schultz. A dynamic, fast-paced yoga flow that is also rooted in the practice of Ashtanga Vinyasa. It consists of poses from the Primary and Intermediate Series of Ashtanga.

Students are encouraged to make their own interpretation of the traditional asana and to remove or modify binding postures that cause students to get stuck in the traditional row, making this method of yoga accessible to all students.

Triva: Schultz's yoga was first called "Rocket Yoga" by Bob Weir of The Grateful Dead because Weir said, "It gets you there faster."

This practice is so great that it caters to yogis like me who enjoy a more dynamic yoga practice. At the same time, I can adapt the yoga to my body and not adapt my body to the pose.

Donna Noble

Yin yoga

This is a practice developed by teacher Paul Grilley to stretch the body's connective tissue, particularly around the joints.

A slow, floor-based style of yoga with postures held for an extended period of time, between three and five minutes. The original intent of this practice was to prepare the body for sitting in long meditation sessions and to act as a counterpoint to movement-oriented, vigorous Yang yoga styles.

Although this style of yoga was not one of my favorites, I maintained a regular Yin practice to combat tightness in certain parts of my body. I have now started offering this to my students and the demand for this style of yoga has increased tremendously.

I have long pursued the Yang styles of yoga such as Bikram and dynamic styles. Don't be fooled: spending a long time in postures like Pigeon Pose can be very intense, which was the case for me. It may seem like there isn't much going on on the outside, but there is certainly a lot going on inside. However, the reward for opening up and letting go of my body is the most satisfying. Once my practice has deepened, you can see me on the Zoom screen with my John Wayne pose!

Donna Noble

Beer yoga

Beer Yoga incorporates beer bottles into standard yoga poses. Practitioners are welcome to use the bottles however they wish, including holding them in their hands or balancing them on their heads, or even drinking between poses.

I suppose drinking in class is fun, but after a few bottles the balance must become challenging. I believe there is a non-alcoholic option.

Donna Noble

Naked yoga

The title is self-explanatory, a class where you perform all the usual Vinyasa yoga poses naked: certainly a class where there is no formal dress code.
You not only remove your clothes but also anything that separates and this helps us resolve body image issues. So it can be classified as body positive. The advantages are that misalignments are easily noticeable because they are not hidden by clothing.

I suppose removing clothing removes any limitations you may have both mentally and physically. In this class you can really see what a yogi looks like in all his proud glory. After all these years, I didn't have the courage to take a class.

Donna Noble

Doga

Is this why we have an up and down dog in yoga?

Doga offers you the opportunity to connect and find harmony with your dog on the yoga mat through gentle massage, stretching and meditation. A 'Yogi' and 'Dogi' practice. Here we can see the dogs stretching at their best, bringing peace and relaxation to both parties. A chance to connect with man's best friend.

It was great to see dogs joining their owners for yoga during their Zoom classes. I recently taught a class - it wasn't a Doga class - but the owner, Dog, soon joined me on the mat.

Donna Noble

Rave yoga

Consists of energetic yoga styles such as Vinyasa and Power Yoga, followed by a rave. Essentially, this is where you can shake your electronic music asana.

There is no need for drugs and/or alcohol as you will get a natural yoga high. After shaking your asana, you can participate in a large group savasana to relax your body from all the dancing and excitement of the rave.

Since then, I've also been able to experience disco yoga - where you can dance to songs by Diana Ross and Barry White.

It's a great way to connect and bring together those who love yoga and dance. The added bonus is that you won't get a hangover - but the natural yoga will be high and that's exactly what I experienced when I took a class.

Donna Noble

Stand Up Paddle Board aka (SUP) Yoga

Swap your yoga mat for a paddle board to practice traditional yoga on the water. The yoga will be more difficult, but you will have additional benefits as you will have to apply more focus, concentration and balance. You'll get instant feedback on whether you're doing the poses correctly, if not, you'll make a splash.

I tried windsurfing during a yoga vacation and really had to try my best to keep my balance. This would be a great way for me to combine my love of water with yoga. I just love how these yoga styles allow you to combine activities that you enjoy.

Donna Noble

Aqua yoga

What do you get when you have yoga + water = aqua yoga?

Aqua yoga is a low-impact pool exercise that involves performing a series of yoga poses in a warm hydro pool or swimming pool.

Because the body supports less weight in the water, the muscles are relaxed and can therefore be stretched and strengthened, with fewer injuries occurring.

Although Aqua Yoga is ideal for students with limited range of motion, it has much to offer yoga students interested in deepening their practice, including an unexpected amount of fun. Which is something I encounter every time I practice.

I discovered that you can't take yourself too seriously in an aqua yoga class - when I initially tried to balance like a tree, I kept losing my balance and it made me laugh. I really loved my savasana and I could really let go and float around without a care in the world.

Donna Noble

Body positive yoga

A body positive class is about modifying yoga poses for a variety of body types, as well as understanding and understanding some of the difficulties a student with a larger body may encounter.

This type of yoga is proving to be more popular and is making yoga truly available to the many rather than the few. This class is about promoting self-acceptance for you.

I always offer students to rest in Child's Pose or Savasana if they wish while listening to their body. Since this is also yoga and it's not always about the asana. The use of props such as blocks and chairs is a standard part of these types of yoga classes.

I love teaching body positive classes because it makes yoga truly accessible to everyone.

Donna Noble

I know many people may be afraid to attempt a class. During this current pandemic, the number of online courses has increased, allowing you to practice from the comfort of your home. This allows you to experience different types of yoga until you find one that resonates with you. Yoga is constantly evolving and it's great to see how yoga is being adapted to welcome more people as it becomes more accessible and inclusive.

There is definitely something for everyone.

Although some of these may seem strange and wonderful, so were Acro, Bikram and Aerial Yoga when they first appeared on the yoga scene and have now become mainstream.

What other weird and wonderful yoga styles are popping up?