Top 10 Yoga Classes You Should Offer in 2018

It is no secret that yoga is great for relaxation and flexibility; but more than that, the ancient practice can greatly relieve stress, improve balance and strength, boost athleticism and lead to big improvements in other aspects of one’s life. But you already know all that! We’re betting that is the reason why you created your yoga studio: to provide all of those benefits to your community.

However, to effectively confer all those perks to your community, you need to offer a wide array of classes that aim to provide a balanced yoga regimen for your students. They should have options to choose from based on their fitness levels and goals for practicing yoga.

A new year is coming, so what are the classes you should definitely teach in 2018? Your chakras are aligned! We made a top 10 list of yoga classes you should teach next year.

1. Hatha Yoga

Hatha yoga is arguably the best type of yoga for beginners as it has a slower pace and is a gentler type of yoga. You probably already offer this class. If not, you should. Here’s why.

Often referred to as “General Yoga,” hatha covers yoga’s basic postures and movements like downward dog, chaturanga and mountain. It focuses on balancing one’s body energy as well as strengthening the mind-body connection. The poses involve a lot of stretching of tight muscles, meditation and deep breathing.

It is perfect for students looking for an introductory yoga class or even advanced yogis that need a more relaxed form of yoga to compliment the more active classes they are taking.

2. Bikram Yoga

Bikram yoga is ideal for any student that wants to lose weight quickly as the class focuses on building up a real sweat. Regarded as the original hot yoga, bikram is enjoying a rapid rise around the world. Chances are, you currently offer it and your classes are almost or always full. You should indeed keep it on the class schedule.

It is a series of 26 postures and two breathing exercises which are performed within 90 minutes in a hot room (95-105 degrees Fahrenheit and 35-40 degrees Celsius to simulate the environment in India). It enables the body to detoxify, stretch, relieve stress, tone and heal chronic pain. Poses are held for a long period of time so calories are burned and excess water weight is also lost.

You can encourage students to alternate between bikram and ashtanga for faster and better weight loss results.

Speaking of ashtanga…

3. Ashtanga Yoga

Ashtanga is a more vigorous style of yoga that is perfect for athletes. Popular among advanced students (as it is physically demanding and requires commitment and daily practice), ashtanga aims to align and cleanse the nervous system and build strength.

Ashtanga is fast-paced and synchronizes each of the poses to breaths that focus on 8 vital points of the body. The poses and breathing techniques are supposed to focus the mind while building flexibility and strength. Unlike other yoga styles, it requires poses to be performed in a specific order with no breaks in between; and the poses become more difficult as the classes progress.

It is a great class to offer to your more advanced students.

4. Vinyasa Yoga

Vinyasa is arguably the most popular yoga style in the world. In fact, you most likely offer it in your studio.

Although it is a derivative of hatha yoga, vinyasa is more fast-paced and the assanas are synchronized with the breathing. It is more like an energetic dance that is focused on the power of inhaling, exhaling and synchronized breathing. Since it is done in quick succession without breaks and the sequence changes from class to class (instructors typically focus on working a specific part of the body or target a specific goal in each class), it is perfect for students – both beginners and advanced – with short attention spans..

5. Power Yoga

Power yoga is derived from vinyasa but has more push-ups, squats and sweat than traditional vinyasa yoga. It is quite a popular class: it can be found in almost every yoga studio and even health clubs that offer yoga classes.

The target is on areas of the body that tighten from weight lifting, cycling and running. So areas like the chest, shoulders, back, thighs, hamstrings and hips. The main focus is on flexibility and strength.

It is the ideal class for your athletic students with short attention spans who prefer to move at a faster pace. It is also great for Type A individuals.

6. Restorative Yoga

Restorative yoga seeks to restore the body, mind and soul. Props (like blankets and blocks) are used to support the body so that students can hold poses for longer, and to open up their bodies using passive stretching.

Classes are usually very relaxing which makes it a good complimentary class to other active classes like power yoga and vinyasa. It is particularly great for students that are dealing with anxiety, emotional instability, injury or illness.

7. Ayurveda Yoga

Ayurveda helps your students achieve a better mind-body connection and understanding. It balances the three doshas which address 3 different psychological functions in the body.

It was in fact developed to treat imbalances using natural remedies but also utilizes poses that enable students to improve their physical and mental health. Perhaps you can add it to your class roster to better balance out your other classes.

8. Iyengar Yoga

Iyengar yoga primarily focuses on aligning the body. Like restorative yoga, props are used to heighten awareness and to enable students to hold poses for longer and achieve proper alignment.

Since the focus is on alignment, it is ideal for students with injuries or chronic conditions. You should encourage first time yogis and advanced students who are pregnant or have injuries to take the class.

9.Tantra Yoga

Tantra yoga is great for students who want to broaden their vision or understanding of their lives. Although it is a derivative of hatha yoga, it uses various aspects of other styles like vinyasa.

Your students may know of tantra yoga in the context that it could improve their sex lives, however, tantra yoga works on subtle energies within the body to heighten spiritual growth and physical wellbeing. It can help them to get in tune with who they are and achieve their goals.

Encourage your yogis to attend the classes with their partners, if they are working on deepening their connection or cultivating and honing their communication.

10. Prenatal Yoga

Prenatal yoga is perfect for your expectant students at any and all stages of pregnancy – even those that want to get back in shape quickly after giving birth. Indeed, if one keeps their muscles strong through a pregnancy, they will still have the strength and vitality to return to their pre-pregnancy state. That is the basic principle of prenatal yoga.

Perhaps the most attractive benefit of prenatal yoga to expectant students is that It teaches them how to breathe properly and intentionally relax (so they can better tackle the strenuous demands of labor and new motherhood).

It is a very popular class so you could be missing out on a key demographic if you aren't offering it in your studio.

Wrapping Up

The classes that you offer in your yoga studio should cater to as many groups of students as possible. A dynamic and varied assortment of classes that seeks to provide a balanced fitness regime to students can boost your studio in many ways. Aim to provide a mix of active, relaxed, and a combination of both, classes.