Whether you’re a veteran yogi or a novice beginner, yoga trends for 2015 are already going strong. The movement easily picking up the most steam has to do with yoga hybrids, which is really all about integrating yoga techniques into other fitness programs. “Yoga hybrids are big,” says Sadie Nardini, founder of Core Strength Vinyasa Yoga. “It’s almost as if straight yoga isn’t enough anymore,” These days, studios are offering up hybrids covering everything from naked yoga, to doggy yoga, to chocolate yoga. (Yes, chocolate.) “More and more people are organizing to get yoga made available to them everywhere they go,” says Russell Case, advisor for Sonima.com andspokesperson for the Sonima Foundation. The non-profit is currently working toward implementing yoga programs into schools. “The 40 million people who do yoga in the United States want it for their kids as well.” So which yoga hybrids are trending the hardest? Here’s what the experts have to say.
Core strength yoga
Let’s face it – working your core is all the rage.
“Core strengthening in the yoga practice is about amping up your digestive fire, your belly, and your spine,” says Nardini, who specializes in the core strength vinyasa style. “Everyone just wants to know how to get their core strength on.” The approach involves targeted movements, postures and sequences all geared toward tightening core muscles. For Nardini, this goes far beyond simply scoring killer abs. Core yoga tackles strength, flexibility, calorie burn and more. As with any practice, she advises newbies to seek a private session with a trained instructor to ensure that they’re doing the poses correctly. This, in turn, will help them really get the most out of their practice. Martial arts yoga
Blending yoga with martial arts is a natural fit. Yoga positions help improve balance, core strength, endurance and flexibility, which all directly apply to martial arts skills. A workout program called Budokon is blazing the MMA/yoga trail. The idea is to deliver a high-intensity, full-body workout by using the principles of meditation and yoga. According to a 2012 Reuters report, this translates to a mix of calm sun salutations, powerful martial arts movements, and guided meditation. The Budokon approach is primarily derived from hatha yoga, which is traditionally slower paced and more gentle. Aerial yoga
Dancer types may feel drawn to aerial yoga, which uses hanging fabric hammocks to take yoga to the next level. Using gravity to its advantage, the approach helps support body weight and promotes relaxation. Floating a few feet off the ground also lends itself to more playful, fluid yoga movements. Another perk of the fabric hammocks? They support realignment and core strength. Aerial yoga definitely takes a more lighthearted approach, which can take the intimidation out of adopting a regular yoga practice. “The whole of yoga comes down to keeping your mind on breathing, which will help your mind start to relax,” says Case, who recognizes that many of us have trouble quieting our minds and calming down. “The whole point is that it doesn’t matter how flexible you are, or whether you feel like you’re good at it or not – you’re there trying to reboot your system.”
Check out what’s trending in yoga
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