There are so many types of yoga being practiced today. Although all of the styles are based on the same physical postures or poses, each has a particular emphasis. Here is a quick guide to the most popular yoga styles that can help you figure out which class is right for you.

Hatha is a mellow form of yoga focusing on simple poses that flow from one to the other at a very comfortable pace, ideal for winding down at the end of a tough day. Participants are encouraged to go at their own pace, taking time to focus on the breathing and meditation in their practice. If a class is described as Hatha-style, it is probably going to be slow-paced and gentle, providing a good introduction to the basic yoga poses.

Viniyoga meaning "breath-synchronized movement" is a slower, more individualized form of yoga, developing balance, strength and healing, ideal for beginners, people with chronic pain or who are in rehabilitation from injury or disease. Like Hatha, Vinyasa is a general term that is used to describe many different types of yoga.

Iyengar - is the most widely recognized approach to Hatha Yoga, created by yogi B.K.S. Iyengar. A softer classical style of yoga, perfect for beginners and those who haven't exercised in a while. It uses props such as chairs, blocks, pillows, and straps, to compensate for a lack of flexibility. Iyengar Yoga is meditation in action, each pose is held for a longer amount of time than in most other yoga styles, developing a state of focused calm, eliminating tension and easing chronic pain.

Ashtanga (or Power Yoga) is light on meditation but heavy on developing stamina and strength. The poses are more difficult than those performed in other styles, suitable for anyone in a good physical condition but should be avoided by those who are new to exercise. The series of poses involves weaving in a combination of standing, seated, inversions, seated, balancing, and twisting poses into sun salutation poses.

Bikram focuses on 26 postures that are performed in a certain order. The exercises are very physical and their intensity is high. Combined with heat (95-100 degree or higher - the temperature of yoga's birthplace in India), it is a tough workout, recommended only for yoga veterans and extremely fit persons. Bikram yoga - with regular practice - has been very helpful in removing symptoms of disease and chronic pain in the body.

Kundalini focuses on healing and purifying the mind, body, and emotions, designed to activate the "kundalini energy" in the spine. This is achieved with breath control, poses, chanting, body locks, visualizations, hand and finger gestures and meditation. Kundalini yoga is beneficial in dealing with addictions, it is a natural way of releasing endorphins just by breathing and doing the poses.

Kripalu is a flowing, spontaneous, and meditation orientated style. Practice would start with meditation and breathing, warm up movements to heat up and prepare for poses. At the first stage, the poses are held a short time, and as the student progresses to the second stage the poses are held for longer.

Sivananda Yoga has a series of 12 poses, with the Sun Salutation, breathing exercises, relaxation, and mantra chanting as the basis. The first Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center was founded in 1957 by Swami Vishnu-devananda. Sivananda yoga is based upon five principles: exercise (Asana), breathing (Pranayama), relaxation (Savasana), proper diet (Vegetarian) and positive thinking (Dhyana).

Mantra yoga, or "yoga of potent sound," which aims at liberation through the verbal or mental repetition of empowered sounds, such as "om," "hum," or "ram," binds the mind to one thought until the restless mind is dissolved.

Karma Yoga focuses on giving of oneself without expecting any reward or "yawn", lays emphasis on selfless action and service. The message of Karma Yoga is very clear - humans must always work in harmony with the great power that controls and runs the universe and if we follow this we are no longer egotistically motivated.

Bhakti yoga focuses on self-surrender in the face of the Divine, the yoga of love and devotion. A Bhakta (devotee) transcends the ego with the all-consuming power of his/her devotion to the omnipresent Being with or without any particular form.

Jnana Yoga emphasizes the use of the mind to discern the mind, aiming at attaining liberation through knowledge and not by rituals and ceremonies. Knowledge attained by Jnana Yoga is through understanding of judgment and experience, the knowledge seeker gains insight and perfect realization.

Raja yoga, which aims for "liberation through meditation." Raja Yoga is also called the "Eightfold Yoga", the "Royal Yoga". When the Hatha Yogi is properly prepaired, Raja Yoga meditations are performed to complete the Union (Yoga) with the ultimate Reality.