To get it straight once and for all..
From Gaiam's website:
Anusara
Developed by
American yogi John Friend in 1997, anusara yoga is a relative newcomer
to the yoga world. Based on the belief that we are all filled with an
intrinsic goodness,
anusara
seeks to use the physical practice of yoga to help students open their
hearts, experience grace, and let their inner goodness shine through.
Classes, which are specifically sequenced by the teacher to explore one
of Friend's Universal Principles of Alignment, are rigorous for the
body
and the mind.
Ashtanga
Ashtanga
is based on ancient yoga teachings, but it was popularized and brought
to the West by Pattabhi Jois (pronounced "pah-tah-bee joyce") in the
1970s. It's a rigorous style of yoga that follows a specific sequence
of postures and is similar to vinyasa yoga, as each style links every
movement to a breath. The difference is that
ashtanga always performs the exact same poses in the exact same order. This is a hot, sweaty, physically demanding practice.
Bikram
Approximately
30 years ago, Bikram Choudhury developed this school of yoga where
classes are held in artificially heated rooms. In a
Bikram class,
you will sweat like you've never sweated before as you work your way
through a series of 26 poses (like ashtanga, a Bikram class always
follows the same sequence, although a Bikram sequence is different from
an ashtanga sequence). Bikram is somewhat controversial, as Choudhury
has trademarked his sequence and has prosecuted studios who call
themselves Bikram but don't teach the poses exactly the way he says
they should. It is also wildly popular, making it one of the easiest
types of classes to find.
Hatha
Hatha
yoga is a generic term that refers to any type of yoga that teaches
physical postures. Nearly every type of yoga class taught in the West
is hatha yoga. When a class is marketed as hatha, it generally means
that you will get a gentle introduction to the most basic yoga
postures. You probably won't work up a sweat in a hatha yoga class, but
you should end up leaving class feeling longer, looser, and more
relaxed.
Hot Yoga
Basically
the same thing as Bikram. Generally, the only difference between
Bikram and hot yoga is that the hot yoga studio deviates from Bikram's
sequence in some small way, and so they must call themselves by another
name. The room will be heated, and you will sweat buckets.
Iyengar
Iyengar yoga was developed and popularized by
B.K.S. Iyengar
(pronounced "eye-yen-gar"). Iyengar is a very meticulous style of
yoga, with utmost attention paid to finding the proper alignment in a
pose. In order to help each student find the proper alignment, an
Iyengar studio will stock a wide array of
props
– blocks, blankets, straps, chairs, bolsters, and a rope wall are all
common. There isn't a lot of jumping around in Iyengar classes, so you
won't get your heart rate up, but you'll be amazed to discover how
physically and mentally challenging it is to stay put. Iyengar teachers
must undergo a comprehensive training – if you have an injury or
chronic condition, Iyengar is probably your best choice to insure you
get the knowledgeable instruction you need.
Restorative
Restorative yoga
is a delicious way to way to relax and soothe frayed nerves.
Restorative classes use bolsters, blankets, and blocks to prop students
in passive poses so that the body can experience the benefits of a
pose without having to exert any effort. A good restorative class is
more rejuvenating than a nap. Studios and gyms often offer them on
Friday nights, when just about everyone could use a little profound
rest.
Vinyasa
Vinyasa
(pronounced "vin-yah-sah") is the Sanskrit word for "flow", and
vinyasa classes are known for their fluid, movement-intensive
practices. Vinyasa teachers choreograph their classes to smoothly
transition from pose to pose, and often play music to keep things
lively. The intensity of the practice is similar to Ashtanga, but no
two vinyasa classes are the same. If you hate routine and love to test
your physical limits,
vinyasa may be just your ticket.
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