Yoga is more than a physical exercise. Yoga means "union" and leads to an integration of mind and body. It facilitates change based on the principles of reflection, integrity and awakening. Central to the practice is vision and transformation. Hatha yoga is traditionally made up of asana (posture) practice, pranayama and bandha/mudra work. Often the asana practice is referred to as hatha yoga and there are now a multitude of different styles of hatha yoga being taught.

Iyengar yoga
This style of yoga was developed by B.K.S. Iyengar in India. It is a system of yoga where some time is spent in each asana (pose) and a precise alignment of the body is focussed on. Often supports eg, bolsters, blocks, chairs etc. are used, to help people work towards achieveing the final shape of the pose.
Iyengar teachers have to complete a rigorous two year programme to become introductory teachers. In order to be accepted on to the teacher training programme they need to have been attending Iyengar yoga classes for a minimum of 3 years and to be competant in the basic asanas and have a good understanding of the yoga system.

Yin yoga
Yin yoga is a slow form of yoga where the asanas (poses) are held for several minutes. It originated in China and focuses on improving the flow of qi through the body. It is quite a meditative form of yoga and aims to cultivate awareness of the inner silence.