Your Yoga Class Guide

How to Choose the Right Yoga Style: Hatha, Vinyasa Flow, Yin & Restorative Yoga

Discover the differences between Hatha, Vinyasa Flow, Yin & Restorative Yoga. Learn which yoga style suits your body, energy, and lifestyle.  

How to Choose the Right Yoga Style

With so many yoga styles available, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. Should your practice be slow or dynamic? Structured or creative? Energizing or deeply calming?

At Vibrations Om, we group our yoga classes into three main families. This makes it easier to understand what each practice offers — and to choose a class that truly supports your body, mind, and lifestyle right now.

Ask Yourself These Questions Before Choosing a Yoga Class

Before focusing on specific class names, pause and reflect:

• Do I want to move actively or slow down and relax?

• Am I looking to build strength, improve mobility, or calm my nervous system?

• Do I prefer clear structure or creative movement?

• Am I new to yoga, returning after a break, or practicing regularly?

There is no “best” yoga style — only the one that feels supportive and sustainable for you at this moment.

1. Hatha Yoga: Traditional, Grounded & Mindful Practice

Hatha Yoga is the foundation of most modern yoga practices. Classes are generally slower-paced, with time to explore each posture, focus on alignment, and connect breath with movement.

This style emphasizes presence, body awareness, and stability. Postures are usually held for several breaths, allowing you to feel what’s happening in your body without rushing.

Hatha Yoga is ideal if you:

• Are new to yoga or returning after time away

• Want a balanced practice that builds strength and awareness

• Prefer a calm, grounded pace with clear guidance

• Want to understand postures more deeply

Gentle Hatha is an even softer entry point, ideal if you’re easing back into movement, managing stress, or recovering from fatigue or injury.

Traditional Hatha Lineages

Sivananda Yoga is a classical Hatha practice with a fixed structure that includes postures, breathing techniques, relaxation, and elements of yoga philosophy. It’s especially supportive for cultivating balance, steadiness, and nervous system regulation.

2. Vinyasa Flow: Dynamic, Breath-Led Movement

Vinyasa Flow is a more dynamic style where movement is continuously linked with the breath. Postures flow from one to the next in creative sequences that can vary from class to class.

This practice builds strength, coordination, mobility, and focus, while also offering a moving meditation quality.

Vinyasa Flow is a good fit if you:

• Enjoy movement and rhythm

• Like variety and creative sequencing

• Want a physically engaging practice

• Feel energized by flowing from pose to pose

Gentle Flow offers the same breath-to-movement connection at a slower, more accessible pace — a great bridge between Hatha and stronger Flow classes.

Structured Vinyasa Lineages

Ashtanga Yoga follows a fixed sequence practiced in the same order each time. It is physically demanding and highly structured, supporting discipline, consistency, and a deep internal focus. This style suits practitioners who enjoy consistency, challenge, and traditional methods.

3. Yin & Restorative Yoga: Deep Relaxation & Gentle Stretching

Relaxation & Deep Stretching

Yin and Restorative practices are slower, quieter, and more introspective. Postures are held for longer periods, often with the support of props, to target deep connective tissues and encourage full relaxation.

These practices are especially beneficial for stress reduction, recovery, and nervous system regulation.

Yin & Restorative Yoga is a good fit if you:

• Feel stressed, tired, or overstimulated

• Want to improve flexibility and joint mobility

• Need recovery alongside more active practices

• Are looking for deep rest and grounding

These styles complement Hatha and Vinyasa beautifully and are often essential for maintaining long-term balance.

Can Your Yoga Style Change Over Time?

Many people move between styles depending on their energy, life stage, or mood. A dynamic Flow practice might feel perfect one day, while Gentle Hatha or Restorative yoga feels more supportive the next.

Listening to your body — and allowing your practice to evolve — is part of yoga itself.

Which Yoga Style Should You Start With?

If you’re unsure where to start:

• Choose Hatha or Gentle Hatha for clarity and grounding

• Try Vinyasa Flow or Gentle Flow if you enjoy movement

• Explore Yin or Restorative Yoga for relaxation and recovery

• Practice Sivananda or Ashtanga if you’re drawn to structured more traditional practices 

Above all, trust that the right practice will meet you where you are.

Ready to Explore Your Practice?

Your yoga journey is personal and unique.

Whether you’re stepping onto the mat for the first time or deepening an existing practice, we’re here to support you.

Explore our classes and begin your journey at Vibrations Om.