When most people hear the word yoga, they think of physical movement—Flow, Vinyasa, Yin, Restorative, Hot Yoga, or perhaps a style named after a well-known teacher. These are all forms of Hatha Yoga, which focuses on postures (asanas), breath, and movement.
But yoga is much more than poses on a mat. In fact, some paths of yoga involve no physical movement at all.
🌿 So What Is Yoga, Really?
According to the ancient text, the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali,
"Yoga is the stilling of the fluctuations of the mind."
In other words, yoga is the practice of calming the mind. That’s the true goal—no matter the style, lineage, or approach.
🍎 Many Kinds of Yoga, One Purpose
Just like there are many types of apples—each with its own flavor and texture—there are many paths of yoga. Some emphasize:
Knowledge and study (Jnana Yoga)
Selfless service (Karma Yoga)
Devotion and love (Bhakti Yoga)
Breath and energy (Kundalini Yoga)
Meditation and awareness (Raja Yoga)
Movement and breath (Hatha Yoga)
Each is valid. Each can lead to clarity, peace, and connection.
✨ What Matters Most
The path you choose doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. Whether you're moving through poses, sitting in stillness, chanting, breathing, or helping others—you’re practicing yoga.
When the mind is settled, we begin to see things clearly. And in that clarity, we find what yoga has always pointed us toward: peace, presence, and purpose.
Paige teaches a variety of styles:
Hatha Yoga: is the branch of yoga that typically comes to mind in the US when you think of it. In general terms this is the physical practice that involves breath, body, and mind that incorporate breathing, yoga poses, and meditation.
Somatic Yoga: Mindful Movement: helps by retraining the brain and nervous system to let go of these patterns and habits through small and gentle movements. This style of yoga is completely accessible to all ages and ability levels and the benefits of the practice can be experienced after just one session.
Kripalu Yoga: Swami Kripalu passed this practice rooted in compassion and wisdom and it continues at the Kripalu Retreat Center (US) today. The yoga movement may be passive or vigorous but the practice is focused on the path of devotion or Bhakti. This means that in practice we can learn more about ourselves; building awareness, compassion, kindness and care. Additionally she studied Ayurvedic Science at Kripalu and the application of this to a yoga practice.
Prenatal yoga: Much like other types of childbirth-preparation classes, prenatal yoga is a multifaceted approach to exercise that encourages stretching, mental centering and focused breathing. Research suggests that prenatal yoga is safe and can have many benefits for pregnant women and their babies. Prenatal yoga can improve sleep, reduce stress and anxiety and increase strength and flexibility.
Yin Yoga: Founded from the concepts from Taoist yoga that understands life has Yang and Yin components in all things. This is true we we think about our joints in our postures that both muscle and connective tissues are challenged. The yin practice focuses on putting force onto the joints and remaining in the pose for at least 60 seconds. Most remain in the pose for 3 to 5 minutes. Taoists would say that this cleanses and strengthens the body. The modern day person understands that the connective tissues have fluid that will start to move more once you release the pose and create more mobility.
Myofascial Release with Yoga: this is the use of props to help untie the tight fascial areas around the muscles.
Restorative: B.K.S. Iyengar helped to develop Restorative Yoga with the use of asanas and props to support the body and rest physically, mentally and emotionally. Restorative Yoga sessions allow the body to slow down and relax in a small number of asanas. This practice is often suggested to those dealing with injuries but many like it as a regular practice as well to help with stress and anxiety.
Gentle: is a variation of the hatha yoga. It was created to be accessible to all types of students, and to support their mental, physical, and spiritual needs.
Vinyasa or Flow: is a style of yoga characterized by stringing postures together so that you move from one to another, seamlessly, using breath. Commonly referred to as “flow” yoga, it is sometimes confused with “power yoga“. Vinyasa classes offer a variety of postures and no two classes are ever alike. The flow can range in speed from fast, moderate too slow.
Foundations/Beginners, Basics: Will vary depending on the teacher and school but will often guide with a general intro as to what Hatha Yoga is and may introduce many to the various styles under the Hatha Yoga practice such as Flow, Restorative, Yin and Gentle. It may also introduce beginners to breath work and meditation.
Chair/Bed Adaptions/Variations: Still Hatha Yoga influenced but variations are offered to someone who can’t move much or at all.
Family/Groups/Kids/Teens/Tweens/Adolescents: Often will be Hatha Yoga that will be flow and yin combination but customized to each person.
Kriya Yoga: Paige believes in the power of a breath practice and her advanced studies lead her into learning more about contraindications as well as techniques for instructing. Breathwork is complicated and in-depth and although many therapists are starting to offer it there is much that the ancient yoga practice has taught about Kriya Yoga.
Raja Yoga: is the path of self-discipline and practice. Raja Yoga is also known as Ashtanga Yoga (Eight Steps of Yoga), because it is organized in eight parts: Yama - Self-control. Niyama- Discipline. (Not to be confused with the Ashtanga practice taught by Jois).
Jnana Yoga: the yoga that leads to the path of knowledge. Discernment of an internal truth and using paths of yoga to obtain this awareness.
Bhakti Yoga: Example of what Kripalu Yoga is based on, a spiritual path of devotion (see above). However others may practice this path in their own way. The path is your own belief and not based on a religion.
Karma Yoga: The path of selfless duty. The word means action. One action impacts the next. Awareness of this makes someone pause and think before they react based on the need, being kind and reflecting on the action.
