There are many variations of Hatha yoga: Acro Yoga, Ashtanga, Bikram, Iyengar (including Kurunta, Fly yoga, pre-natal-post-natal, Restorative, Therapeutic, Yoga Wall …), Kundalini, Nidra, Sivananda, Viniyoga, Vinyasa. Moreover this last one declines itself in Poxer yoga, Detox flow, Gentle flow, Hot flow, open Flow, Anurasana, Jivamukti, Rocket Yoga, Warrior Yoga, Shiva Rea yoga, Strala yoga…All styles invented by celebrities of yoga draw from the “flow” of vinyasa.
To fully understand the specifics of Iyengar Yoga, here is an article that simply and effectively summarizes what is important to know.
All these exotico-exotic terms, it is to make cool this Sanskrit “fashion” with all the sauces?
Hatha, vinyasa, yin, Viniyoga, Ashtanga, Iyengar, Sivananda Yoga. When you want to learn yoga, you are lost and perplexed by the quantity of yoga styles. Personally, I struggled to find what I was looking for. More physical, more philosophical, more meditative… Yoga is an infinite path that can start because you have a bad back, and then by trying all kinds of classes, you get hooked to a teacher, to a “style”. Be aware that what we hear in the West is often limited to the physical practice of asanas (postures) which stems from Hatha from which almost all the styles you will encounter are derived. This small descriptive guide above can help you at first. You just have to click on the name of the style. I wish you a beautiful adventure which is infinite like life. Have a good trip. Namaste.
Little chart found by chance on the net… Not bad, except for the Iyengar ( hey hey )… I have explored all the styles, but I always come back to Iyengar because it is the most complete. Because it is the style that contains all the styles: Precision of course, but also cardio-vascular, strength, flexibility, routine, relaxation, everything except the sauna … I will add that the other styles of yoga are inspired more and more by Iyengar methods, I think of yin or restorative …
And for the more, here is a beautiful summary published in the Guardian on Yoga and its variations.
