What Kind of Yoga Is This?

A Simple Guide to Understanding the Layers of Modern Yoga Styles, Hatha Yoga, and the Deeper Roots of Practice in a Modern World

If you’ve ever walked into a yoga studio and looked at the schedule, you may have felt a little overwhelmed.

Vinyasa
Power
Hot Yoga
Hatha
Slow Flow
Iyengar
Restorative

It’s natural to wonder:

Are these all different kinds of yoga?
Am I supposed to pick one?
Does it matter which one I practice?

And maybe most importantly:

What is yoga really — beyond the class name?

This layered landscape can feel confusing — especially when you’re simply trying to find a practice that supports your body, your mind, and your life.

Let’s gently untangle it.

Yoga Is Bigger Than a Style

Most of what we encounter in studios today refers to the style of class.

But yoga, at its roots, was never defined by tempo, temperature, or choreography.

Traditionally, yoga described a path of growth — a way of relating to life, awareness, and transformation.

Different classical teachings speak of different approaches, including:

• A path of action (Karma Yoga)
• A path of devotion (Bhakti Yoga)
• A path of understanding (Jnana Yoga)
• A path of mental clarity (Raja Yoga)

These aren’t different classes.

They’re different ways of engaging with life.

The Common Thread Behind Most Classes

Most modern physical yoga, whether it’s gentle, strong, hot, or flowing, shares a common root.

That root is Hatha Yoga.

Historically, Hatha Yoga was a system of practices designed to help purification of body and mind, while also supporting balance in the body system energies and cultivating clarity in the mind. 

It included:

• Posture (movement)
• Breathwork
• Awareness
• Meditation
• Mudras (hand seals) 
• Bhandas (internal locks) 

In other words:

Yoga wasn’t just about stretching.

It was about becoming more present and integrated.

It was about preparing body and mind for the spiritual journey of awakening, enlightenment or transcendence.

Most modern yoga classes today are different expressions of these same tools, but often without the ultimate goal yoga originally offered - Union with True Self and Source.

Most modern yoga classes today focus on Union of body and mind, which is a prerequisite for the ultimate goal of yoga, Union with the True You, The Jiva, The Soul, and the Source from which it came.

Why Do Classes Feel So Different?

If many classes share the same roots, why do they feel so different?

Because what we often experience is the style — not the deeper foundation.

A helpful way to understand this is to think in layers:

Tradition — The Roots

This is the deeper system yoga comes from.

Most modern classes come from the Hatha Yoga tradition — which includes posture, breath, and awareness practices.

Lineage — The Influence

Different teachers throughout history emphasized different aspects of practice.

Some focused on alignment.
Some on flow.
Some on strength or therapeutic support.

Some on deep rest and nervous-system reset.

These influences shaped how yoga was taught — much like family traditions shape how recipes evolve.

Style — The Experience

Style is what we usually see on the schedule.

It describes:

• How the class moves
• The pacing
• The environment

Examples:

• Flow — movement linked with breath
• Power Yoga — strength-focused and energetic
• Hot Yoga — practiced in a heated room
• Iyengar — alignment and precision (heavy usage of props) 
• Restorative — deep relaxation

These are not entirely different yogas.

They are different expressions of the same foundational practices.

So… What Kind of Yoga Are You Practicing?

The answer may be simpler than it seems.

Most likely, you are practicing:

Yoga rooted in traditional Hatha practices — expressed through a modern style.

That means your class may emphasize:

• Strength
• Flow
• Stillness
• Recovery
• Breath awareness

But underneath it all, you are working with the same essential tools.

Why This Understanding Helps

When we understand the layered nature of yoga, we can:

Choose classes based on what we need — not just labels.

One day we may want:

Movement and energy.

Another day:

Stillness and grounding.

We can appreciate that yoga is not limited to a single format.

It is adaptable.

Supportive.

Alive.

A Gentle Reframe

Instead of asking:

“Which yoga is the right one?”

We might ask:

“What kind of support do I need today?”

More energy?
More calm?
More strength?
More recovery?

Yoga can meet us in many ways.

Closing Reflection

Next time you step into a class, whatever the label, consider:

What am I cultivating here?

Awareness?
Balance?
Strength?
Connection?

Because yoga is not defined by what the class is called.

It is defined by what it awakens in us.

Recommended Reading

For those curious to explore deeper roots: (studying these with a teacher is highly recommended) 

• The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
• The Hatha Yoga Pradipika
• The Bhagavad Gita