Traditional yoga styles like Ashtanga, Lyengar and Shivananda are already known to regular practitioners. However, the newer styles like TriYoga or Viniyoga would still confuse many people as to which would serve fitness or spirituality needs. Knowing the various styles and their focus on physical challenge or relaxation would prove helpful.

Hatha Yoga is the 'mother of all' yoga styles since current styles have evolved from this. Simultaneously, it is performed by a combination of the asanas with breathing exercises and cleansing practices (pranayama and shatkriyas) and meditation and deep relaxation. Customarily, the postures are kept for long times and in a meditative atmosphere.

Anusara Yoga emphasizes an attitude that affirms life and grounded on the heart. This style is based on the principle of proper alignment and that a joyful and receptive performance enhance the positive outcomes of the asanas.

Ashtanga-Vinyasa is a dynamic and forceful style emphasizing breathing techniques, composed of six particular strings of poses with some elements of movement by which each pose progresses from the stationary traditional poses.

Bikram Yoga is made of a series of 24 positions and two pranayamas or breathing techniques intended to improve strength, balance and flexibility. This style differs from others with its requirement to be performed in a room heated as high as 40 degrees Celsius, in order to produce more sweat to rid the body of toxins. Which came up with 'Hot Yoga' as the more popular term for this style.

Integral Yoga, from its term, integrates the asanas, breathing styles, meditation and deep relaxation into one complete procedure with a spiritual bent.

Popularized for its wide use of props of chairs, belts, blocks, etc. is Iyengar Yoga, which puts so much attention on particularities and focus on correct alignment. Beginners are given detailed instructions as well as general information on its advantages to health.

The style of Jivamukti Yoga got its name from the Sanskrit translation of jivamukti, which is "liberation of the soul." This style has a spiritual inclination and is more traditional than others and is performed in particular progressions of asanas that are held for a long time, going on segue from one to the next in an energetic and flowing manner. It also encourages a vegetarian lifestyle and environmental consciousness.

Kripalu Yoga, or its alternative term, Amrit Yoga is a mutually healing and mystical style. With the objective of bringing the mind to serene stillness and a non-critical perspective of self and self-practice, this style is placid and temperate in relation to others.

On the contrary, Kundalini Yoga is energetic and strong, aiming to stir the force of the serpent Kundalini, found at the base of the spinal column. Asanas are maintained for long periods and accentuating breathing.

Power Yoga is a easy, dynamic and precise offshoot of Ashtanga style. This style targets the development of endurance, vitality and fitness. It's said to be 'about feeling good, not just looking good.'

Sivananda Yoga brings together the principles of exercise (asana), breathing (pranayama), relaxation (savasana), vegetarian lifestyle and meditation.

TriYoga combines asanas, pranayama and mudras (the sacred hand gestures) and smooth progressions of asanas.

One healing style is Viniyoga, focusing on breathing-movement harmony. The asanas, which are maintained for long periods, are also adjusted to the practitioner's age and health status.

Vinyasa Flow style is made of instant asanas which progress from one to the next in certain easy movements harmonized with breathing techniques. The aim of this style is improved energy and agility, stilling the mind, healing and developing spiritual consciousness. This style is an adaptation from the traditional Ashtanga-Vinyasa yoga styles.