What is the difference between Hatha, Yin and Vinyasa Yoga?

What is Hatha Yoga?

Hatha Yoga is the foundation of all modern practices. The literal translation of Hatha is Sun (Ha) Moon (Tha) and it implies a practice meant to balance the passive and assertive energies present in every living being through movement.

Gentler than Vinyasa and more physically demanding than a Yin practice, Hatha is perfect for beginners and advanced students alike, always encouraging the practitioner to bring an open mind and deeper sense of self awareness to the mat every single time.

These daytime sessions will focus on the regeneration of your internal organ system, working through yoga sequences designed to detoxify and release any physical or emotional stagnation within while cultivating a deeper sense of wellness and presence.

What is Yin Yoga?

Targeting your fascia and subtle energy channels to release any tension build-up, Yin Yoga works on the deeper and more sophisticated aspects of the integral body system to support a more refined detox experience.

In layman’s terms, Yin Yoga will allow you to experience a deeper sense of relaxation while working with the lesser tended to bodily tissues and functions to provide deeper and longer lasting harmony between the body, mind, heart and spirit.

This relaxing yoga style will be practiced in the evening after an early dinner and requires very little physical effort as each passive posture is held for anywhere from two to five minutes. After practice, we will share herbal teas around an open fire before heading to sleep.

What is Vinyasa Yoga?

Vinyasa yoga is typically referred to as a more athletic style, with it’s primary aim to build heat in the body in order to accomplish more flexible postures and stronger detoxification through perspiration plus a strong, fast flow through the sequences of poses, or asanas.

You may be wondering if vinyasa yoga is a safe style for you. Typically, it is advised that a person has some degree of athletic foundation before beginning a vinyasa yoga sequence, however some sessions can be adapted or taught in a lighter, less challenging fashion to accommodate any practitioner level. You should always communicate with your teacher if you have any injuries or concerns regarding the state of your overall health and physical capabilities.

Because vinyasa poses are intended to begin and end with inhalation and exhalation, respectively, there is still a strong emphasis on deep, even, full breathing to support at stable and safe vinyasa yoga practice.

A well curated vinyasa yoga sequence should include a warm up, some peak poses requiring effort on behalf of the practitioner and a cool down phase ending in sivasana. At all phases of a good vinyasa sequence, the teacher should integrate a variety of deep stretching and adaptations to encourage the student to grow in their practice.