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We’ve all heard about the wonderful health benefits of yoga, but there are so many different variations that it’s sometimes difficult to know what each one entails and which one would best suit your body. It’s important to have an understanding of what each style offers, so that you can choose one which will most benefit your fitness regime. So whether you are looking to embark on a revitalising yoga holiday to a far-flung location or simply want to get involved with a local class; here is a breakdown of eight different types of yoga.

Our luxury yoga holidays and retreats feature different types of yoga, so you’ll be able to practise the style you enjoy the most if you’re an experienced yogi, or have a go at all of them and find the best one for you. You’ll benefit from expert yoga teaching and guidance, in exotic destinations spanning from St. Lucia, Spain and Italy to India, Thailand and Bali. You’ll return home feeling reinvigorated with a desire to get back on your yoga mat.

1. Vinyasa yoga

Get flowing with Vinyasa yoga at Kamalaya

This type of yoga is often referred to as Vinyasa flow yoga, as it consists of different poses linked together with movement, and synchronised with breathing. Your yoga teacher will instruct you to move from one pose to another whilst inhaling or exhaling; generally when moving upwards you’ll inhale, and when moving downwards you’ll exhale. A Vinyasa yoga class can be fast-paced or slow, and allows a lot of room for the personality of the individual teacher who is taking the class. So, it’s important to find a yoga teacher whose style you enjoy, and be ready for something different when you begin a new class.

Try Vinyasa yoga at Kamalaya in Thailand

2. Kundalini Yoga

Experience "the mother of all yoga" at SwaSwara

This style of yoga has been described as “the mother of all yoga” as it is one of the oldest recognised forms. Kundalini is the word used to describe the untapped potential inside all of us, which this yoga practice seeks to target and release. It’s a very active form of yoga which includes common poses, as well as some of its own unique poses, chanting, meditation and sounds to stimulate your creative energy. People who practise it are said to finish their session feeling extreme happiness and tranquillity.

Try Kundalini yoga at SwaSwara in India

3. Ashtanga Yoga

Improve your circulation with Ashtanga at The BodyHoliday

Ashtanga is a form of moving meditation and a more vigorous type of yoga, perfect for people looking for a more fast-paced workout whilst on a fitness holiday. Breathing is synchronised with movement, producing an intense heat to sweat out toxins and improve your circulation. This type strictly follows a particular order of eight steps, each with a fixed number of breaths and movement which help maintain a healthy heart and stabilise the mind. Strength, sweat and stamina are the three main aspects of this form, which is said with your body’s natural detoxification process and leave you feeling restored.

Try Ashtanga yoga at The BodyHoliday in St. Lucia

4. Hot Yoga

Detox your body with hot yoga at Absolute Sanctuary

Otherwise known as Bikram yoga, this type is made up of a series of 26 poses and two breathing exercises carried out in a specific order in an extremely hot room. Steam is pumped into the studio to create a sauna-like environment, with temperatures reaching around 40°C, which is said to benefit joints, reduce the risk of injury and increase your flexibility. Also, due to the extreme heat, you’ll be sweating profusely meaning it’s a great component to a detox holiday. Also your heart rate will be elevated more than usual, making your body work harder and allowing you to see better results.

Try hot yoga at Absolute Sanctuary in Thailand

5. Iyengar Yoga

Try Iyengar yoga to encourage good posture at SHA

This style of yoga focuses on breath control and detail, precision and alignment when carrying out the different poses, to encourage relaxation, good posture and balance. It features hundreds of different yoga poses and fourteen types of breathing, so you can progress gradually from the easier forms to the more advanced movements. Often props are used, such as belts and blocks, to support the body in certain poses, reducing the risk of injury. This makes it a perfect form of yoga for people looking for rehabilitation on a healing holiday or those who need a gentle and very supportive exercise.

Try Iyengar yoga at SHA Wellness Clinic in Spain

6. Restorative Yoga

De-stress with restorative yoga at The Farm

Learn to reach deep relaxation and detach yourself from the stresses of daily life with restorative yoga. This will improve the functioning of your immune system and aid with specific wellness issues like digestion, insomnia, fertility and general fatigue, to name but a few. Props, like blankets and blocks, are used to support the body so you’re able to hold certain positions for longer and gain the utmost benefits of each stretch. It is a very gentle class which doesn’t see the body temperature rise as much as in other yoga classes, and is a perfect accompaniment to more cardio exercises.

Try restorative yoga at The Farm in the Philippines
 

7. Pranayama breathing

Experience different types of Pranayama at Ananda

This is a traditional practice of breath control used in yoga, which has been found to relieve stress and even improve respiratory conditions, such as asthma. There are several different types of Pranayama breathing, including inhaling and exhaling through alternate nostrils, chanting whilst exhaling and slow inhales then quick exhales. It is said to purify the mind and soul, strengthen your heart, enhance the proper functioning of your organs, remove toxins from your body, reduce blood pressure and get rid of any negative emotions that you feel, like anger, arrogance and greed.

Try Pranayama at Ananda in India

8. Hatha

Learn the basics at Marbella Club
Hatha is one of the more common types of yoga, and is great for learning the basics and reconnecting your body and mind. It describes gentle and basic yoga classes with no flow between poses, unlike Vinyasa yoga. It consists of six slow movements, breathing exercises and meditation, so it’s a brilliant place to start for beginner yogis. It’s also a great choice for people looking to learn effective relaxation techniques whilst on a spa holiday. It is designed to open up the body and allow the free flow of energy, to create balance and harmony.

Enjoy Hatha yoga at Marbella Club

Talk to one of our Travel Specialists on or contact us here to discuss tailor-making your perfect yoga holiday.

Fitness technology and gadgets are an excellent way to make sure you lead a healthy and active lifestyle. With new advancements in technology, you can measure your fitness stats; calculate your heart rate, distance covered and time to gain an insight into your health. These new tech gadgets are extremely accurate and easy to use making them a must have for any fitness enthusiast. They can shed light on the ways that you exercise, track changes and motivate you to achieve your fitness goals. These handy gadgets are useful to take with you when travelling on an active holiday so you can continue to work on your health and fitness.

Revive your family holiday with a healthy change of pace and get the kids active whilst soaking up the sun in luxury wellness destinations worldwide. Take a look at our useful infographic for inspiration on where to go and what to do, from cultural adventures in Vietnam, to sports breaks in St Lucia and family spa retreats in Italy. Get in touch with one of our travel specialists to tailor-make your perfect family holiday.

From the health conscious to the sporty and active, globetrotting parents can now share their favourite wellness holidays with their little ones, as we introduce our new healthy With more children out of shape, parents are looking to encourage healthy habits and revamp their stagnant family holidays lounging by the pool with a healthy change of pace and get the kids active whilst soaking up the sun. Discover a diverse selection of healthy family holidays worldwide, from cultural adventures in Vietnam, to sports breaks in St Lucia and family spa retreats in Italy.

Christmas is often characterised as the time of year in which your healthy habits are broken; overindulgent festive feasts and seasonal celebrations can take their toll on your well-being and leave you feeling lethargic. However, the feeling of being bloated and heavy headed will soon be forgotten as we invite you to take a break from your usual Christmas routine and revive on a luxurious spa break. Whether you would like to focus on de-stressing, healing or enhancing your general well-being, with indulgent spa treatments and wellness activities a healthy Christmas holiday is much more than a chance to seek some winter sunshine and can give you the opportunity to re-balance.

With my last few student months ahead of me, it won’t be long until I’ll be stepping into the real world to begin my career. With this in mind, I decided to take it upon myself to gain as much experience as I could during my last break, in order to help me choose the right career path. With a passion for health and fitness, and plenty of experience in travelling, an internship with Health and Fitness Travel seemed like the perfect place for me to learn.  

Yogis wanting more than just the usual yoga break can now combine their yoga holiday with a range of other pursuits and interests, as we introduce our inspiring collection of specialist yoga holidays. Whether beginner or expert yogi, with the percentage of yoga practitioners growing by 20-25% every year, everyone can embrace a new lifestyle on a yoga holiday with some secret extras. Part of a larger wellness trend, complement transformative yogic practice with our range of specialist yoga holidays; from diving in Bali and luxury spa retreats in Italy, to SUP in Ibiza and meditation in India.

Revive your mind and body by escaping on one of our luxury yoga holidays. Combine yoga with a spa break in Italy, a culture holiday in Thailand, or a fitness break in St. Lucia. Take a look at our useful infographic for interesting facts and figures; inspiration for where to go, and reasons why you should bring yoga into your life. Get in touch with one of our travel specialists to tailor-make your perfect yoga retreat.

“Are we there yet?” If you think luxury spa holidays are a no-go zone with the children in tow, think again. With our top 10 family friendly spa holidays, you no longer have to choose between family time and relaxation.

Start your New Year the right way by jetting off to an exotic destination on one of our healthy holidays. From a yoga, spa and surfing holiday in Morocco, to an activity and fitness holiday in the Caribbean; you’ll be able to keep active and boost your fitness levels on one of our tailor-made healthy holidays over the New Year, while your body reaps the rewards. Alternatively, if you’re simply looking to improve your health, why not try a weight loss holiday in India or a detox holiday in Oman to rejuvenate your mind, body and soul? All of our healthy holidays feature luxury spas complete with a range of therapeutic treatments and expert wellness therapists to ensure you’re able to relax and unwind on your New Year wellness getaway.