What's the difference between Hatha
and Ashtanga Yoga?

Answered by Kathleen Kastner, owner of Maya Yoga studio, in Kansas City, MO.

What is the difference between Hatha yoga and Ashtanga yoga? -Martha

Hatha (sun and moon) yoga is umbrella term that includes all styles of yoga that focus on the postures (asana) as the main emphasis of the class. This includes:  Iyengar, Power yoga, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Bikram, Sivananda, etc. Usually, however, when a yoga class is advertised as Hatha yoga, it will be a slower style of asana class, which is good for beginning students.

Ashtanga (eight limbs) yoga is a form of Hatha yoga that continuously flows, with deep Ujjayi breath and energy locks (bandhas).  Even though it is a form of hatha yoga, it is very intense, compared to a gentle beginning yoga class.

Kathleen Kastner has been teaching ashtanga, vinyasa and power yoga for ten years and is also the owner of Maya Yoga studio, in Kansas City, MO

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