Anusara--A relatively new approach to yoga founded in 1997, Anusara litteraly means "to open to your heart or flow with nature and grace." Precise aliment underlies this practice, which is also filled with a large dose of Hindu spiritual concepts that are absent from most other forms of yoga.
Ashtanga--This invigorating workout is best for athletic types who want to build strength, stamina and flexibility. The classes follow the same prescribed order of poses, so each class will be the same. You'll do everything from back bends, headstands, balances and twists. Some people find even the beginner classes very difficult.
Bikram--Also reffered to as "hot yoga", Birkram is a sweat-fest, with the room heated to around 105-degrees. The benefit of Bikram is that your muscles and joints will loosen up, but you can easily become dehydrated so bring a big water bottle. There are 26 poses in the series and you'll do it twice.
Hatha--Good for people who are starting out and new the world of yoga. Usually a slower paced class that includes basic poses, breathing techniques and ways to transition. If you're looking for a more relaxing style yoga, this would be a good fit. If it's too mellow for you, look for another style.
Iyengar--You won't be working up a sweat in an Iyengar class. But you will be holding the poses for up to two minutes. You'll also be using the various yoga props: belts, straps, blocks, blankets and bolsters. This type of yoga focuses on precise alignment.
Vinyasa--Often called "flow" yoga, these classes will move from one pose to the next fluidly. The teachers will help you focus on breathing with each movement. These classes can also be a good place to start if you're new to yoga. The teachers will often play hip music and the poses will have colliqual names (i.e. Mountain, Down Dog) instead of Sanskrit ones (like Tadasana, Bodikonasana).
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