Surprising Yoga Varieties to Up Your Om Game

Bored with your standard yoga practice? Or do you avoid yoga for the mundane mat routine it appears to be? If you answered yes to either, you’re in luck! More and more unique yoga varieties are popping up, and some with surprisingly standout twists–and by that we don’t mean triangle pose.

Standard Yoga Fare

Yoga is steeped in tradition, dating back thousands of years when it originated in India. The goal then was to essentially connect a person physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually (with spiritually meaning less about religion and more about earth’s energy). Despite the passing of eons, the same goal is still the focus of many yoga practices regardless of if you’re just starting out or well seasoned with advanced yoga poses. 

Yoga Varieties with Flair 

If that all sounds a little too Mother Earth or hippy dippy for your liking, there’s likely a new yoga style that’s more on point with your personal interests. Take a look at these surprising yoga varieties, then grab your mat to give them a m-Om-ent of your time!

• Poses for Pint Lovers: Raise a glass of your favorite ale to a yoga class that blends bends and brews. Beer Yoga is pouring into cities all across the country, often pairing yoga instructors with unconventional locations including breweries and beer gardens, in addition to typical studios. As you can imagine, this foam-topped practice is likely lighter in intensity than one packed with advanced yoga poses–making it perfect if you’re new to yoga or just want to find an active way to approach happy hour with pals.

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  Bends for Your Inner Belly Dancer: Want to turn up the sweat session of your savasanas? The core and cardio combo of Buti Yoga might just be your [high] speed. Buti is Marathi Indian term meaning “the cure to something that’s been hidden away or kept secret.” And what you’re likely to find in this style playing up tribal dance and primal movements is confidence and energy. For all of those who find yoga slow and boring, Buti bucks the norm.  

• Yoga That’s Not-So Serious: Turn that frown upside down and get deep into practice of belly laughs with Laughing Yoga. Typical yoga is focused on the breath, but with this LOL style, you might need to catch your breath from the all-out giggle riot that starts with jokes, a sense of humor, and sometimes just faking the laugh fit until it becomes real. If you’ve ever laughed til it hurts, you know what a good core workout a chuckle can create. 
• Be-the-Mountain Mat Style: Mountain pose may fall under traditional yoga but with Goat Yoga you become the hill atop which cute baby goats can climb on up. Trendy as this odd-paired practice may be, it’s hard not to feel more childlike when sweet little farm animals say baa as you say Om. Will you get an intense, advanced yoga practice? Probably not. But you’ll have fun, and really, that’s how exercise is done best. 

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  Bends Baring All: Don’t have a thing to wear to yoga class? Skip the clothing and go full Monty with Naked Yoga. This in-the-flesh yoga is not for the faint or modest of heart. Once you scale the hurdle of overcoming your shy side, naked yogis say the experience can be liberating, confidence-building, and boosting the feeling of being comfortable in one’s own skin. And bonus–no sweaty laundry to do when you get home!

Sticking with an active lifestyle means trying new things. Maybe these aren’t yoga styles to which you’ll commit a weekly practice, but trying them can expand your body, mind, emotions, and spirit…and don’t forget, that’s the whole point of yoga!

What’s your favorite yoga style–new or old? Share with others in the comments.

Carrie Anton (270 Posts)

Carrie Anton is a freelance writer focusing on health, fitness, and sports. She's been published in Self, Women's Health, Oxygen, and Maximum Fitness.