Yoga Styles Explained: Hatha, Vinyasa, Yin and More
Yoga has many styles, and the names can be confusing. This is a short, friendly map of the main ones, what a class feels like, and where to find a matching sequence here.
The main styles at a glance
Hatha
A broad word for physical yoga. Classes are usually slow to moderate, with poses held for several breaths and plenty of explanation. A good place to begin. Try Gentle Full Body.
Vinyasa
Poses linked by breath, one movement per inhale or exhale. Classes feel fluid and often warming. The classic building block is the sun salutation: see Sun Salutation.
Ashtanga
A fixed, demanding series of poses practised in the same order each time, with a strong focus on breath. See our Ashtanga standing sequence.
Iyengar
Precision and alignment, with long holds and generous use of props such as blocks, straps and blankets.
Yin
A slow, quiet style where floor poses are held for several minutes. It is about stillness more than effort. Poses such as Reclined Bound Angle and Child's Pose often appear.
Restorative
Fully supported rest, with props holding the body so the muscles can let go. Try Restorative Reset.
Power and hot yoga
Strength-focused, faster-paced vinyasa, sometimes practised in a heated room. Hold standing poses such as Warrior II a little longer and add core work such as Boat Pose.
Prenatal, chair and gentle yoga
Adapted practices for pregnancy, limited mobility or a first return to movement. Our library includes chair variations of many poses. These deserve a trained teacher for personal guidance.
How to choose
- Want to unwind? Yin, restorative or gentle hatha.
- Want to move and warm up? Vinyasa.
- Want structure and discipline? Ashtanga.
- Want to understand alignment? Iyengar.
Styles overlap more than their names suggest. A good teacher mixes them, and so can you.
Sequencing for each style
The structure stays the same everywhere: warm-up, flow, cool-down. What changes is pace, hold times and the number of poses, which you can see in our guides on creating a yoga sequence and how long to hold poses. In the sequence creator you can tag a sequence with its style, from Hatha and Vinyasa to Yin, Restorative and Yoga Nidra.
Questions & Answers
What is the difference between hatha and vinyasa yoga?
Hatha is slower, with poses held for several breaths. Vinyasa links poses in a continuous flow with the breath, so classes feel more fluid and often more warming.
Which yoga style is best for beginners?
Gentle hatha is the most common starting point, because it is slow and explains each pose. Restorative and chair yoga are also welcoming choices.
What is the difference between yin and restorative yoga?
Both are slow. Yin holds floor poses for a few minutes to gently stress connective tissue; restorative uses props to fully support the body so you can rest.
Can I mix yoga styles in one sequence?
Of course. Many teachers do. Keep the arc (warm-up, flow, cool-down) and choose the pace that fits the people in the room.