5 unusual types of yoga you never knew existed

Ganja Yoga

1. Dog Yoga (Doga)

Why not try yoga with man’s best friend? Dog Yoga offers mutual health benefits for both humans and their furry friends, encouraging healing in the mind and body of dogs just like it does in humans. Stress relief, concentration, and stretching are just some of the benefits that Doga offers. Classes usually start with the dogs lying on their sides, with the humans on mats next to them. Obviously, your dogs may not be able to handle every exercise, but they will leave happy, relaxed, and with a sense of self-worth.

Doga lessons are held in London and New York.

Dog yoga

2. Hysterical Yoga

Tantrum Yoga wants you to stop acting your age and asks you to do what its name suggests: throw a tantrum for adults. In a typical Tantrum Yoga class by creator Hemalai Bel, you'll find participants screaming at the top of their lungs, stamping their feet, beating their chests, and more. After these tantrums, there's a quiet sense of peace and relief that leads to ultimate catharsis. If you need to work on pent-up anger, this is for you.

Hysterical Yoga

3. Aerial Yoga

Yoga in the air. These soft fabric hammocks, held in place by carabiners about 3 feet above the ground, are made of high-density nylon and can hold up to several hundred pounds. The benefits of aerial yoga include many of the same benefits as regular yoga, such as flexibility, focus, muscle strengthening, and stress relief. But because of the freedom of the hammock, you can move your body into deeper positions, which leads to a more complete stretch. You're also forced to use other muscles to stay balanced.

Aerial Yoga

4. Broga Yoga

Broga Yoga is designed to get more men on their mats. While the practice includes a vinyasa flow, it's primarily a strength training class with some cardiovascular exercises woven into it. Adam O'Neill, co-founder and president of Broga Yoga, believes the concept came about out of necessity. Growing up, his mother was a yoga teacher and encouraged him to incorporate it into his workouts. Seeing it as a predominantly female activity, he balked. That was until he developed sciatica and discovered that much of his physical therapy involved yoga-like poses. Now, he's not just comfortable in a yoga class, he's ready to share yoga with the rest of the male population as well.

Brotherly Yoga

5. Acroyoga

Sports couples and sports buddies, this yoga is for you. Acroyoga is a practice for partners that involves a combination of three things: yoga, acrobatics, and Thai massage. There are two different types of acroyoga: lunar and solar. Both involve working together to balance in different poses, except that the lunar focus is more based on muscle massage, while the acrobatics are more advanced and more intense in solar. Either way, acroyoga is very playful and a great way to connect with a friend, partner, or even someone you just met!