Viniyoga

What it is

   A highly individualized practice where yogis learn to adapt poses and goals to their own needs and abilities. Vini actually means differentiation, adaptation, and appropriate application. Instead of focusing on stretching to get strong and flexible, viniyoga uses the principles of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF). PNF simply means warming up and contracting a muscle before stretching it. Gary Kraftsow, founder of the American Viniyoga Institute, says this decreases your chance of injury. 

 

Best For     A personalized practice. Viniyoga teachers usually work one-on-one with students so they'll create a series of modified asanas for your body and its limitations.

Who's gotta have it     Back-pain sufferers of all types from lower back to sciatica. Viniyoga will stabilize your sacrum, loosen back muscles, and balance out your spine.

Need to know      The National Institutes of Health uses Kraftsow to help with yoga studies. Finding a qualified viniyoga teacher can be tough but worth it. If there's no one in your area, attend a conference or invest in the products. Function wins over form in this style, so each pose will be adapted to give you what you need.

Trends and trivia     This style is steeped in yoga family history: It was started by T. Krishnamacharya and now carried on by his son T.K.V. Desikachar and grandson, Kausthub Desikachar. Krishnamacharya's brother-in-law is B.K.S Iyengar (see Iyengar), and Sri K. Pattabhi Jois (see Ashtanga) was his disciple. Talk about a good network.