What Types of Yoga Are the Most Popular on Mindbody?

International Yoga Day is June 21—a day to celebrate all the different types of yoga practiced all over the world. And there's plenty of reason to celebrate. In 2018 businesses powered by Mindbody offered 10.9 million yoga classes of all different types. The collective time students spent practicing yoga in these classes? 137 million hours!* That's a lot of time on the mat!

What are the different types of yoga? And what yoga styles are most popular on Mindbody?

Vinyasa yoga

Vinyasa, sometimes referred to as just “flow,” classes are the most popular on Mindbody, with 32% of all yoga classes falling under the Vinyasa category. In Vinyasa classes, students move from one pose (asana) to the next, linking their movement to their breath. There is no set sequence, and there are many modifications for these poses, allowing for a lot of variety in classes. Vinyasa flows incorporate sequences of poses together and can challenge beginners and expert yogis alike.

Hot yoga

Hot yoga classes make up 10% of the yoga offered on the Mindbody platform. These classes take place in a heated room, heating up muscles in the body and allowing for deeper stretching (and a whole lot of sweating). For these classes, the room is heated to sauna-like between 80 and 105 degrees Fahrenheit. Bikram yoga is a type of hot yoga that follows specific poses and sequences. For those with tight hamstrings, hot yoga is a great place to start—just don't forget your water bottle, an absorbent mat, and towels!

Power yoga

Power yoga accounts for 8% of classes on Mindbody. Like Vinyasa classes, there can be a lot of variety from class to class. Just like Vinyasa, power yoga also stems from Ashtanga. Power yoga classes are ideal for people looking to improve their strength while increasing flexibility, allowing them to leave class feeling energized.

Restorative yoga

Restorative yoga classes account for 7% of Mindbody class offerings. In this type of yoga, poses are held for extended periods of time. Restorative yoga often involves props that aid in stretching and achieving complete relaxation. It's a perfect way to de-stress, regardless of your fitness level.

Hatha yoga

Hatha yoga is a general term that includes many types of yoga—any with asanas, including Vinyasa, power, hot, Iyengar. While many yoga classes technically fall under the Hatha type, 6% of classes specifically label themselves as Hatha on Mindbody.

Yin yoga

Of the classes on Mindbody, 5% are Yin yoga. Like in restorative yoga, students hold poses for extended periods of time in Yin. The main difference between these two types is that, while restorative yoga promotes a relaxation response, Yin seeks to increase flexibility. These slower-paced classes are an excellent choice for beginners who are looking to increase flexibility.

Yoga sculpt

This is a relative newcomer to the yoga family. Just over 2% of classes are yoga sculpt. While it can vary from yoga teacher to yoga teacher, it's often a hybrid of Vinyasa flows, cardio, and hand weights. The music in sculpt classes is more Top 40 than Enya. For those looking to get more cardio into their practice, yoga sculpt is the perfect option. On average, yoga sculpt classes on Mindbody have 19 students⁠—the highest average of any type of yoga.*

Ashtanga yoga

Ashtanga yoga refers to the eight limbs of yoga and follows a specific sequence in each series set (there are a total of six). This practice was founded by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois and involves a series of postures connected by breath and comprises 2% of Mindbody's class offerings. Unlike Vinyasa, Ashtanga follows a specific sequence of poses. The breathing technique in Ashtanga (ujjayi) helps to heat up the body internally and detoxify, and meditation rounds out the practice. Those looking to sweat and reset should look no further than Ashtanga.

Iyengar yoga

Two percent of yoga classes are Iyengar. This style emphasizes precision and alignment. Iyengar classes often use props to help students find the correct posture. There are no flows or sequences in these classes, but instead, poses are held for extended periods of time. Iyengar yoga is the ideal class for someone recently injured or someone looking to improve alignment.

With so many yoga types to choose from, there’s a class for everybody.

Namaste.

*All worldwide yoga classes and bookings on the Mindbody platform January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018.