There are many styles of yoga classes available, so we understand that it’s quite confusing to know which one to attend!
Some classes are very physically challenging and will leave you in a sweat; whereas others are gentle and restorative, leaving you calm and sleepy. Some teachers play music in class; others don’t. Some classes include references to yoga philosophy, and others don’t. Some teachers use Sanskrit names for the poses they teach, but some use more modern English names. So, as you can see there is a lot of variation – it’s what makes yoga so special.
Here at Go Yoga, we have many different types of yoga classes on the schedule, with more being added from September. Therefore, we always recommend you try out as many of our yoga classes as you can during your first month. That’s the reason we offer a £30 for 30-day membership for our new clients. How much you enjoy your yoga experience will come down to how much you like the teacher and their style of guiding a class, as well as the type of yoga being practiced.
Here we have listed the main types of yoga that we teach at Go Yoga. Hopefully, this will give you a bit of a beginner’s guide to choosing the classes that are right for you…
Hatha Yoga
The majority of yoga classes being taught in the UK today are a form of Hatha yoga. Hatha comes from the Sanskrit word ‘ha’ meaning sun and ‘tha’ meaning moon. Together the full word means force.
A Hatha yoga class is likely to be a combination of breath, body, and mind – a mix of physical postures, breathing exercises, and some form of relaxation or meditation to finish. Hatha is considered to be a gentle form of yoga as it focuses on static poses, however, this doesn't mean it is in any way easy! It still presents a challenge and can be physically and mentally exhilarating.
Hatha yoga is great for beginners to get familiar with the poses themselves, but it is also great for improvers and regular students to get a deeper understanding of the poses and perfect their technique.
Vinyasa Flow Yoga
The word Vinyasa means to move with the breath. Often called just flow yoga, a Vinyasa class usually consists of a flowing sequence of yoga poses, joined together by the breath.
Depending on the level of the class, the class could include poses such as arm balances, headstands, shoulder stands, and standing balances. Many Vinyasa flow classes have music to accompany the flow of the class, which the individual teacher will put together to match the mood of the flow.
Many people love a flow class because it helps them connect more with their breath and keep that inward focus better. It’s great for stress relief as well as cardiovascular health too because it’s faster-paced.
Hot Yoga
Like it hot? Us too!!! Hot yoga refers to any yoga class that is done in a heated room — generally from 80 to 100 degrees. Here at Go Yoga, our hot yoga classes take place in our Hornbeam Park studio, which uses Infrared heaters to create that warmth in the room.
Hot yoga classes generally consist of a flow sequence, which is challenging, yet extremely rewarding. As well as being a great calorie burner, it’s also great for stress and tension relief as well as helping you to tune into your breath and increase your lung capacity.
If you’ve never taken a hot yoga class before, feel free to contact us with questions or arrive a bit early to chat with the teacher before class. Alternatively, take a look at our new guide to the benefits of hot yoga here.
Restorative Yoga
If you are looking for a little more relaxation from your yoga class, then a restorative yoga class is for you. A restorative yoga class will guide you through a few restful poses that are held for long periods of time, followed by a long period in Savasana (final relaxation) with some guided form of meditation.
Restorative poses could include light twists, seated forward folds, and gentle back-bends. It's sometimes helpful to bring your own props to a restorative yoga class including blankets, blocks, and bolsters to support you in the poses.
Yin Yoga
Similar to restorative yoga, Yin Yoga is a gorgeous, slow-paced form of yoga where poses are held for longer periods of time.
Yin yoga is aimed at stretching the connective tissues (e.g. the fascia and ligaments) around the pelvis, sacrum, spine, and knees to promote flexibility. It can help with circulation and muscle recovery too as well as being deeply relaxing.
Yin is a quiet style of yoga and will quickly show you how good you are at sitting still.
Try them all!!
It’s unlikely that there is only one style of yoga for you! Many people reach out to different classes depending on their mood and energy levels at that particular time.
Take a look at our schedule and book on to trial a few of the different classes for yourself. We look forward to seeing you in class very soon. Namaste.