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Rising in popularity, Bikram yoga, developed by Bikram Choudhury, uses rooms heated above 105 degrees with about 40% humidity and repeated postures in the workouts. Sessions are demanding, even in beginning practice, employing the same 26 postures and two pranayama breathing techniques. Bikram shuns the use of props and avoids demonstration of the asanas in class: students are expected to learn poses by watching and listening to the instructor. Students swear by the results of the disciplined, highly-focused sessions.

Iyengar is a style of yoga emphasizing body placement and alignment. The style incorporates "props" to support postures and accommodates students of varying degrees of fitness and flexibility. Items such as yoga blocks or bricks (which "raise" the floor) or cotton yoga straps (which aid in stretching) are helpful to students with injuries, weakness or inflexibility. Sessions are slower due to the concentration given to each pose and the focus necessary to perform them correctly.

Kundalini is derived from the Indian word kundal, which means, "lock of hair from the beloved." The uncoiling of this "hair" (often referred to as a serpent) is the awakening of the kundalini, the creative energy stored in the base of the spine in all humans. Kundalini yoga practice aims to activate this energy through breath, poses, chanting and meditation. Several forms of breathing techniques are used to clear the system and allow energy to flow into the chakras, or energy centers located in the body.

Sivananda yoga integrates many forms of yoga, including a traditional Hatha approach. More than just a set of poses, Sivananda weaves a five-point philosophy into every class, including principles of relaxation, exercise, breathing, diet and positive thinking. Sessions follow a sequence of breathing exercises, a routine of postures and deep relaxation and meditation.