This is a list of the most common forms of yoga found in western yoga studios. The definitions are from Wikipedia but I have added personal notes just to confuse things a bit.
Anusara Yoga – a modern school of hatha yoga grounded in a Tantric philosophy of intrinsic goodness [1], that was started by John Friend in 1997. The emphasis of the school is on a set of “Universal Principles of Alignment” which underlie all postures, “heart opening” postures and the spiritual/meditative benefits of hatha yoga.
Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga – This style of yoga is characterized by a focus on viṅyāsa, or a dynamic connecting posture, that creates a flow between the more static traditional yoga postures. Vinyasa translates as linking and the system also implies the linking of the movement to the breath. Essentially the breath dictates the movement and the length of time held in the postures. The viṅyāsa ‘flow’ is a variant of Sūrya namaskāra, the Sun Salutation. The whole practice is defined by six specific series of postures, always done in the same order, combined with specific breathing patterns (Free breathing with the ujjāyī sound). Each series typically begins with 10 Sun Salutations and the standing poses. This is referred to as the “opening sequence”. The student then moves to either the Primary, Intermediate, Advanced A, B, C, or D, depending on his or her skill level, a back-bending sequence, finally closing with a set of inverted postures, referred to as the “finishing sequence”.
Bikram Yoga – also known as hot yoga, is a style of yoga developed by Bikram Choudhury.[1] Bikram Yoga is ideally practiced in a room heated to 105°F (40.5°C) with a humidity of 40%. Classes are guided by specific dialogue including 26 postures and two breathing exercises. Classes last approximately 90 minutes.
Hatha Yoga – Traditional Hatha Yoga is a holistic yogic path, including moral disciplines, physical postures (asana), purification procedures (shatkriya), poses (mudra), yogic breathing (pranayama), and meditation. The Hatha yoga predominantly practiced in the West consists of mostly asanas understood as physical exercises. It is also recognized as a stress-reducing practice. In many ways, Hatha Yoga has become an umbrella category for other more specific types of yoga. For example, several of the yoga types listed here are considered to be forms of Hatha yoga.
ISHTA Yoga – Developed by South African teacher Mani Finger and popularized in the States by his son Alan, ISHTA (Integral Science of Hatha and Tantric Arts) focuses on opening energy channels throughout the body with postures, visualizations, and meditation.
Iyengar Yoga – created by B. K. S. Iyengar, is a form of yoga known for its use of props, such as belts and blocks, as aids in performing asanas (postures). It is firmly based on the traditional eight limbs of yoga as expounded by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras, emphasizing the development of strength, stamina, flexibility and balance, as well as concentration (Dharana) and meditation (Dhyana).
Iyengar Yoga is characterized by great attention to detail and precise focus on body alignment. Iyengar pioneered the use of “props” such as cushions, benches, blocks, straps, and even sand bags, which function as aids allowing beginners to experience asanas more easily and fully than might otherwise be possible without several years of practice. Props also allow tired or ill students to enjoy the benefits of many asanas via fully “supported” methods requiring less muscular effort.
Jivamukti Yoga – Developed by Sharon Gannon and David Life in the 1980′s, Jivamukti Yoga emphasizes the spiritual and ethical aspects of yoga that have often been disregarded or devalued in contemporary times. It is a vigorous and challenging asana form with an emphasis on scriptural study, Sanskrit chanting, vegetarianism, non-violence, meditation, devotion to God and the role that music and listening play in the practice of yoga. Life and Gannon currently operate a popular yoga studio in New York City.
Kripalu Yoga – Sometimes referred to as the yoga of consciousness. A gentle, introspective yoga form that urges practitioners to hold poses to explore and release emotional and spiritual blockages. Goal-oriented striving is discouraged and precise alignment is not as important as in some other traditions. There are three stages in Kripalu yoga. Stage One focuses on learning the postures and exploring your bodies abilities. Stage Two involves holding the postures for an extended time, developing concentration and inner awareness. Stage Three is like a meditation in motion in which the movement from one posture to another arises unconsciously and spontaneously.
Kundalini Yoga – a physical and meditative discipline within the tradition of Yoga, associated with the subdivision of hatha yoga [1]. It describes a set of advanced yoga exercises. The exercises are also sometimes referred to as Kriya Yoga or simply Kriya. According to Hindu tradition Kundalini yoga is a pure spiritual science that leads to enlightenment and God-Realization under the guidance of a Spiritual Master. The awakening of kundalini means awakening of inner knowledge [2].
Power Yoga – The American interpretation of ashtanga yoga, a discipline that combines stretching, strength training, and meditative breathing. Power yoga takes ashtanga one step further. Many of the poses (also called postures or their Sanskrit name, asanas) resemble basic calisthenics — push-ups and handstands, toe touches and side bends — but the key to power yoga’s sweat-producing, muscle-building power is the pace. Instead of pausing between poses as you would in traditional yoga, each move flows into the next, making it an intense aerobic workout.
Restorative Yoga – often associated with healing from diseases. Restorative yoga is yoga practiced in a very relaxed state by using supports instead of muscular tension to maintain the pose alignments. Restorative poses help relieve the effects of chronic stress in several ways. Restorative yoga balances masculine and feminine aspects of energy so that the practitioner is neither overstimulated nor depleted.[13]
Sivananda Yoga – based on the teachings of Swami Sivananda, is a non-proprietary form of hatha yoga in which the training focuses on preserving the health and wellness of the practitioner. Sivananda Yoga teachers are all graduates of the Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training Course, and students widely range in age and degrees of ability. Unlike Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga’s more athletic program involving Bandhas, Sivananda training revolves around frequent relaxation, and emphasizes full, yogic breathing.
Viniyoga – This is commonly used as a therapeutic practice for people who have suffered injuries or are recovering from surgery. It is a gentle, healing practice that is tailored to each person’s body type and needs as they grow and change.
Yin Yoga – so named because of its correspondence to the Taoist concept of yin, is a very distinct style of Chinese yoga similar to hatha yoga that stretches the connective tissue (joints) rather than conditioning the muscles, the latter being the aim of most other styles of hatha yoga. Experientially, the practice is characterized by passive asanas held for several minutes each.
Yin yoga has been popularized in Western Culture by teachers Paul Grilley and Sarah Powers. The teachings of Paul Grilley incorporate ideas related to traditional Chinese medicine and qigong, such as Taoist yoga and meridians. The practice is called yin, as opposed to yang, because it corresponds with yin attributes such as substance, passive posturing, cold (as opposed to hot) and other such qualities. Yin yoga is often used to improve the flow of qi through the body.