There’s a vast difference between just doing yoga and truly elevating your practice.
The difference lies in knowledge.
Simply following along with a video or instructor is fine, but to truly deepen your practice, you need to know the latest trends and techniques.
Learning the latest yoga trends lets you choose which ones work for you, expanding your practice in new and exciting ways.
Keeping up with these trends means you’re always learning, growing, and improving.
Here are eight of the latest yoga trends that can help elevate your practice.
1) Online yoga classes
The digital world has made its mark on pretty much every aspect of our lives, and yoga is no exception.
Online yoga classes have soared in popularity, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
These virtual classes provide a convenient, flexible option for yogis who want to fit their practice into their busy schedules.
The beauty of online classes lies in their variety.
They offer a wide range of styles, intensities, and durations, allowing you to tailor your practice to your personal needs and goals.
Consider this: you can now do a calming Yin class in the morning, a vigorous Ashtanga class at lunchtime, and a relaxing Nidra class before bed – all from the comfort of your own home.
Online yoga classes serve as your personal yoga studio.
They offer guidance, structure, and a sense of community without you having to step outside your front door.
This trend is about making yoga accessible and personal.
It’s about fitting yoga into your life, not the other way around.
2) Yoga with props
I’ll be the first to admit that I was a bit skeptical when I first heard about yoga with props.
I always felt that yoga should be about simplicity, using just your body and your breath.
But let me tell you, my perspective took a complete 180-degree turn when I actually gave it a shot.
One day, I found myself struggling with a certain asana – the pigeon pose.
No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t get my body to sink into the pose the way it was meant to.
That’s when my instructor suggested using a yoga block.
Nervously, I positioned the block under my hip and eased into the pose again.
The difference was remarkable.
Not only was I able to hold the pose comfortably, but I also felt a deeper stretch in my hip flexors – something I had never experienced before.
Using props in yoga isn’t about making poses easier; it’s about making them more accessible.
It’s about acknowledging that every body is different and needs different support to fully experience each pose.
Yoga props – like blocks, straps, blankets and bolsters – can help deepen your practice by allowing you to experience each pose in its entirety.
So, if you’re like me and you’re looking to elevate your practice, don’t shy away from yoga props.
They offer an opportunity to explore and understand your body in a way that traditional yoga alone might not allow.
3) Aerial yoga
Aerial yoga, also known as AntiGravity yoga, is a newer trend that is taking the yoga world by storm.
This unique practice combines traditional yoga poses with elements of aerial acrobatics, Pilates, and dance.
During an aerial yoga class, you perform poses and sequences with the assistance of a special fabric hammock suspended from the ceiling.
The hammock acts as a soft trapeze, supporting your body weight and allowing you to achieve deeper stretches and more challenging poses.
What’s really fascinating about aerial yoga is that it was originally developed by Christopher Harrison, a former gymnast and Broadway choreographer, as a conditioning routine for his acrobatic performers.
Today, it’s not just for acrobats or dancers; it’s for everyone eager to add some adventure to their regular yoga practice.
Aerial yoga offers numerous benefits, from improved flexibility and strength to better posture and balance.
And let’s not forget the fun factor – because who wouldn’t want to feel like they’re flying while getting in a great workout?
4) Sound bath yoga
If you’re looking for a yoga trend that’s all about tranquility and relaxation, then sound bath yoga might just be your cup of tea.
Sound bath yoga is a practice where participants meditate or lie down, often in savasana pose, while various sound instruments like gongs, singing bowls, and chimes are played.
The concept is that these specific sounds can help facilitate a deeper state of relaxation and meditation.
It’s an immersive experience that combines the physical benefits of yoga with the therapeutic benefits of sound.
The vibrations produced by the instruments resonate with the body’s energy centers or chakras, promoting balance and harmony.
Sound bath yoga provides a unique opportunity to turn inward and disconnect from the external world.
It’s a beautiful way to explore the connection between body and mind, enhancing your overall yoga practice.
5) Yoga for mental health
In a world where stress and anxiety seem to lurk around every corner, yoga for mental health has become more than a trend; it’s become a necessity.
Yoga isn’t just about physical flexibility or strength; it’s about finding inner peace, fostering self-love, and building resilience.
It’s about learning how to navigate the ebbs and flows of life with grace and equanimity.
Practices like mindfulness yoga or trauma-informed yoga can help individuals cope with mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
They provide tools to manage stress, cultivate mindfulness, and promote emotional well-being.
What’s truly heartening is the growing recognition of yoga as a therapeutic tool.
In fact, many mental health professionals are now integrating yoga into their treatment plans.
So, whether you’re dealing with life’s everyday stresses or battling a mental health disorder, incorporating yoga into your routine could offer a much-needed sanctuary.
This trend is not just about enhancing your practice; it’s about using yoga as a beacon of hope in your journey towards mental wellness.
6) Yin Yoga
For someone who thrives on high-intensity workouts and fast-paced yoga flows, slowing down was not an easy task.
But Yin Yoga taught me the beauty of stillness.
Yin Yoga is a slow-paced style of yoga where poses are held for longer periods of time, usually between 3 to 5 minutes.
It’s not about building heat or increasing your heart rate, but about surrendering to the pose and finding comfort in discomfort.
This practice targets the deeper connective tissues – the ligaments, joints, bones, and deep fascia networks of the body, which are not often exercised in more active styles of asana practice.
Through Yin Yoga, I learned how to embrace silence and create space in my body and mind.
It taught me patience and resilience, and it showed me that sometimes, the most profound transformations happen when we’re willing to sit with ourselves just as we are.
7) Eco-friendly yoga
As we grow more aware of our impact on the environment, eco-friendly yoga has gained popularity.
This trend is all about making sustainability a part of your practice.
From choosing yoga mats made from natural or recycled materials to opting for yoga wear crafted from organic cotton or bamboo, every choice matters.
It’s about reducing our carbon footprint and making choices that are kinder to our planet.
Eco-friendly yoga also extends to the way we practice.
Outdoor yoga, for instance, allows us to connect with nature and appreciate its beauty while we flow through our sequences.
This trend is a reminder that yoga is not just about self-improvement, but also about fostering a sense of responsibility towards the world we live in.
8) Personalized yoga
At the end of the day, the most important yoga trend to follow is personalized yoga.
Yoga is not a one-size-fits-all practice, and what works for one person might not work for another.
Personalized yoga is about understanding your body, your needs, and your goals.
It’s about adapting the practice to suit you – whether that means adjusting poses to accommodate an injury, choosing a slower-paced style if you’re looking for relaxation, or incorporating more challenging poses if you’re aiming to build strength.
This trend underlines the importance of listening to your body and honoring where you are in your practice.
It’s about making yoga work for you, rather than trying to fit into a specific mold.
So, remember to keep it personal.
Your practice is yours alone, and it should reflect who you are and what you need.
That’s the real secret to elevating your yoga journey.
It’s your journey
The beauty of yoga lies in its flexibility and adaptability.
It’s a practice that honors individuality and encourages personal growth.
Each one of these trends offers a different path to explore and deepen your practice.
But remember, the ultimate goal of yoga is not to perform the most advanced poses or follow the latest trends.
It’s about finding balance, peace, and connection – with yourself and the world around you.
The wisdom of the ancient yogic texts, the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, tells us that “Yoga is the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind.”
This is a profound reminder that at its core, yoga is a practice of mindfulness and self-awareness.
So, whether you choose to explore aerial yoga or sound bath yoga, remember to honor your unique journey.
Let these trends inspire and guide you, but never let them define your practice.
