So you’ve decided you want to check out what all the yoga hype is about and want to a attend class. You look at a class schedule and see lots of exotic and unfamiliar titles like power and rocket yoga. Let’s be clear, these aren’t types of cars or vegetables, but different styles of yoga.

Let’s look at what kinds of metamorphosis some of the traditional forms of yoga have gone through and most importantly, the ones I get asked about by my students.

Power Yoga

An offshoot of Ashtanga Yoga, it has many of the same qualities and benefits, including building internal heat, increased stamina, strength and flexibility, as well as stress reduction.

This style of yoga was created to make flow yoga more accessible to more people.

"I love that the Power yoga has made the Ashtanga series more accessible and is opening up this great practice to a wider audience." Donna Noble

Rocket Yoga

Rocket Yoga, aka ‘The Rocket’, is a style of yoga developed by Larry Schultz. A dynamic fast paced flow of yoga also rooted in the practice of Ashtanga Vinyasa. It is composed of poses from the Primary and Intermediate Series of Ashtanga.

Students are encouraged to make their own interpretation of the traditional asana and can remove or modify binding postures that tend to cause students to get stuck in the traditional series, allowing this method of yoga to be accessible by all students.

Triva: Schultz’s yoga was first called “Rocket Yoga” by Bob Weir of The Grateful Dead, because Weir said, “It gets you there faster.”

"So great this practice has evolved to accommodate yogis like me who enjoy a more dynamic paced yoga practice. At the same time allowing me to adapt the yoga to work for my body and not adapt my body to the pose." Donna Noble

Heavy Metal Yoga

A power based Vinyasa flow class, set to a heavy metal sound track to push your body.

Consisting of all the usual yoga postures like Downward Facing Dog and Tree poses. You can expect however to rock out the air guitar as there’s a lot of this in heavy metal, and this is used in yoga to mobilise the shoulders. As much as possible the class mimics things that would occur in a heavy metal environment, so the stage dive that the band would do, becomes a back bend for the yogi.

A class to make you relax and release your inner beast.

"It would be great to see how this style of music would impact my yoga practice. Will really allow me to release my inner beast. I suppose it would be good as yoga is all about letting go." Donna Noble

Yin Yoga

This is a practice developed by teacher Paul Grilley to stretch the body’s connective tissue, particularly around the joints.

It is a slow-paced style of yoga with postures that are held for longer periods of time ranging between 45 seconds to five minutes or more. The initial intention of this practice was to prepare the body to be able to sit in long meditation sessions and to act as a counterpoint to movement-oriented vigorous yang styles of yoga.

"I have started to incorporate more yin into my practice as I have long followed the yang styles of yoga like Bikram and dynamic styles. Don’t be fooled: staying in postures like pigeon pose for longer periods of time can be quite intense which has been the case for me. However the reward of my body opening and releasing is satisfying. That would explain why if you seen me lately, I have been walking like John Wayne!" Donna Noble

Beer Yoga

Beer Yoga integrates beers bottles into standard yoga poses. Practitioners are welcome to use the bottles however they want, including holding it in their hands or balancing it on their heads or even drinking between poses.

"I suppose drinking in class is fun, but after a few bottles, balance must become challenging. I certainly know this would be the case for me after a couple of bottles! I do believe that there is a non-alcoholic option available which may be more up my street." Donna Noble

Naked Yoga

The title is self-explanatory, a class where you perform all the standard Vinyasa yoga poses naked: certainly a class where you don’t have to worry about what to wear.

Not only are you removing your clothing, but anything that separates and this helps us address body issues. The advantages are that any misalignments can be readily seen as they will not be hidden by clothing.

"I suppose the removal of clothes removes any restrictions that you may have both mentally and physically. In this class you really do get to see what a yogi looks like in all their glory." Donna Noble

Doga

Is this the reason why we have upward and downward facing dog in yoga?

Doga presents you with an opportunity to bond and get in harmony with your dog on the yoga mat through gentle massage, stretching and meditation. A yogi and dogi practice. This is where we can see the dogs stretching at their best and bring calm and relaxation to both parties.

"It has been great seeing all the images on social media where owners and their dogs practice together." Donna Noble

Rave Yoga

Consists of practising energetic styles of yoga like Vinyasa and Power yoga followed by a Rave. Essentially this is where you get to shake you asana to electronic music.

There’s no need for drugs and or alcohol, as you get a natural yoga high. After your have shaken you asana, you get to participate in a huge group savasana to relax your body from all the dancing and excitement of the rave.

"It’s a great way to create connection bringing together those that love yoga and dancing. The added bonus is you don’t get a hangover – but get that natural yoga high." Donna Noble

Stand Up Paddle Board aka (SUP) Yoga

Swapping your yoga mat for a paddle board to practise traditional yoga on water. The yoga becomes more challenging but you have additional benefits as you have to apply increased focus, concentration and balance. You will get instant feedback as to whether you’re doing the poses correctly, if not you will make a splash.

"I have tried wind surfing whilst on a yoga holiday and really had to try my best to balance. This would be a good way for me to combine my love of water with yoga. I just love how these styles of yoga allow you to combine activities that you enjoy." Donna Noble

Goat Yoga

Appears to be the newest kid on the block (no pun intended). It is essentially animal assisted therapy. In other words, you are practising yoga while tiny goats amble around and sometimes you can cuddle them. They are clambering on your back, licking your toes or nibbling your yoga mat.

The humour to be obtained from the actions of the goat is what makes it therapeutic.

"I have personal experience of Horse animal assisted therapy, so am aware of the potential benefits of practising with the Goats might bring. However I am not sure how my focus will be trying to connect mind and body – but I suppose connection is now with mind, body and goat." Donna Noble

I know a lot of people can feel intimidated when they venture into a yoga studio. Yoga is continually evolving and it is great to see how yoga is being adapted to welcome more individuals to this great practice.

There is certainly something for everybody.

Although some of these may seem weird and wonderful, so did Acro, Bikram and Aerial yoga when they first appeared and now they have become more mainstream.

I can’t wait to see what develops next on the yoga scene.