If you’ve been working out for a while, you may be looking for fun ways to shake up your routine and help improve your fitness level. Here are 9 newfangled types of yoga that will help you change up your yoga practice, along with pros and cons to help you decide if it’s a good fit for you:
- Trampoline yoga: trampoline yoga is a new and energetic type of yoga class that combines yoga postures, jumping and dance movements to upbeat music, all done without the mat on a mini rebounder trampoline.
- – Pros: these classes are energetic and playful, a great way to add some more fun to your workouts
- – Cons: if you prefer low intensity and relaxation-type yoga classes, this type of class may not be a good fit for you
- Snowga (snow yoga): yoga classes in the snow. If you love spending outside in the winter, this is a yoga class you might love!
- – Pros: getting some sunshine in the winter is always a good idea!
- – Cons: if you have cold intolerance due to medical conditions (like raynaud’s), you’ll want to avoid snowga
- Yoga with animals: Some yoga classes are now including animals like cats, dogs, mini pigs and baby goats in yoga classes to bring good feelings into their class.
- – Pros: a fun practice for animal lovers
- – Cons: not great for people allergic to animals or pet dander. It’s also not ideal for people who don’t like being covered in animal hair (physical interaction with animals is encouraged in these classes).
- Sound Off yoga: in Sound Off yoga, each class participant wears a set of LED headphones. Each person can pick the music they want to practice to, and the instructor is patched in over your music.
- – Pros: you don’t get distracted by outside noise so you can focus on your practice
- – Cons: If you’re a super social person and love to interact with other people in class, this may not be for you.
- Mom/dad and baby yoga: bring your baby to yoga class with you!
- – Pros: This is a great way to incorporate your kids in your fitness routine and bond with them.
- – Cons: You may not be able to focus as intensely on your practice when your little one is with you, so this class is likely to be less intense or focused as a regular adults-only yoga class.
- Laughter yoga: developed by a doctor in India, laughter yoga adds guided laughter techniques to yoga classes without using humor or comedy
- – Pros: adding laughter to yoga classes can improve stress levels and mood, among other health benefits (like possibly lowering blood pressure)
- – Cons: if you don’t like a lot of noise and prefer a quieter practice, this type of yoga may not be a fit for you
- Aerial yoga (also called antigravity yoga): Aerial yoga uses gravity and soft aerial hammocks to enhance yoga asanas both on the ground and off the ground.
- – Pros: a playful and unique way to add variety to your yoga routine. If you’re up for a challenge, this is a fun way to change up yoga poses.
- – Cons: not for people with high blood pressure, glaucoma or vertigo (people with those conditions should avoid inversions). This may also not be a good fit for people with joint problems who should not be moving deeply into yoga postures.
- SUP/Paddleboard Yoga: This one has been around for a few years, but is still a fun way to do yoga: it’s yoga that’s done on a stand-up paddleboard (SUP). SUP boards are unstable and require a lot of balance, which is great for adding a lot of challenge to yoga poses.
- – Pros: because this yoga is performed on an unstable surface, it helps to build balance, and it requires additional focus and concentration. Having good balance to begin with helps!
- – Cons: not for people who are afraid of the water or don’t know how to swim, or people with balance problems. If you have inner ear problems and vertigo, you may want to avoid this type of yoga.
- Pop-Up yoga: Pop-up yoga is yoga classes that are mobile and change locations. They may be in different parks or venues throughout the city during the week. Some even have literal pop-up rooms or mobile pods that can take the yoga class anywhere.
- – Pros: because it’s mobile, you can wait for it to be in a location near you so it may be convenient.
- – Cons: these don’t always have a consistent scheduled time and place, so staying consistent with your practice may prove tricky. If these are held in parks, people with seasonal allergies may also have issues during allergy season.
Have you tried these types of yoga? Tell us in the comments about your experience!
Other unique yoga classes you may (or may not!) want to check out:
– Boxing Yoga
– Stiletto yoga
– Slackline yoga
– Aqua yoga
– Horseback yoga
– Noise yoga (live music)
– Beer yoga
– Voga (yoga and “vogueing” dance)
– Hotpod yoga (pop-up hot yoga pod)
– Harry Potter yoga
– Kilt yoga
– Karaoke yoga
– Tantrum yoga
– Hoola hoop yoga
– Yoga raves
– Hip-hop yoga
– Harmonica yoga
– Food yoga (catered meal after yoga)
– Twerking yoga
– Pole yoga
– Glow/blacklight yoga
– Naked yoga (noga, nagna)
– Cannabis yoga
Disclaimer: this post is for informational purposes only and is not meant to replace advice from your medical professional. See your doctor before beginning any new exercise program.
–Sara Jane Parker
About the Author: Sarah Jane Parker is an ACSM certified personal trainer, ACE certified Health Coach, blogger, and yoga instructor working and living in Wyoming. Her blog, The Fit Cookie, shares simple healthy living tips, allergy-friendly recipes, and workouts.
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