But there are so many choices!
Which one is the best for you?
There are so many benefits to a regular yoga practice such as increased energy, strength, flexibility, and improved mental clarity and concentration. I do recommend that someone new to yoga should take the time to learn how to safely enjoy the many benefits this practice can provide, and may want to take a few beginners Hatha classes to learn the basic poses.
Hatha is a slower-paced practice, and is a good place to learn the foundation of yoga poses (or asanas). If you are the kind of person who likes to be constantly active, hatha may feel a bit slow to you at first, however, I strongly recommend sticking with it to understand the basics around a physical yoga practice (and don’t worry, there are many styles of yoga you can try, to get your sweat on, once you have a good understanding of the poses).
Even if you are already physically fit, take a few beginners classes to learn the poses and avoid the risk of injury. There are a great many yoga books and DVDs available as well … but there is no substitute for a good teacher in a yoga class!
There are a wide variety of yoga classes being taught today. Almost all of the styles are based on the same physical poses (from Hatha), yet each style offers something unique to the participant. I have noted a list of the most popular types of yoga practiced here in the Lower Mainland (although there are still many more!), to help you choose a yoga class that is most suitable to you and what you are looking for in a practice.
Common Yoga Styles and Classes
Hatha: is a very general yogic term that embraces many of the physical types of yoga styles and classes. The classes described as “Hatha style” are more likely to be slower, gentler and provide a good introduction to the basic yoga poses. This is an excellent starting point for the new yogi (or yogini) wanting to foster a new yoga practice!
Vinyasa: similar to Hatha, Vinyasa is a general term that describes different types of classes. Vinyasa yoga focuses on breath-synchronized movement, and is often based on the performance of a series of poses called Sun Salutations.
Ashtanga or Power Yoga: Ashtanga (which literally stand for “eight-limbed yoga” in Sanskrit), is a fast-paced, powerful style of yoga. An established series of poses is performed, and always in the same order. The practice is physically demanding, and there is constant movement from one pose to the next (also known as a “flow” in yoga) –it definitely gets your heart beating! Often you will hear this style of yoga referred to as “Power Yoga” –this is a modern style of yoga (based on Ashtanga), and may not necessarily adhere to the flow of poses in Ashtanga.
Kundalini: this practice is known as the yoga of awareness, as the emphasis is to work with the breath in conjunction with physical movement, in an effort to free energy in the lower body – allowing it to move up the body. Even though all yoga practices make use of controlling the breath, the exploration of the effects of the breath (also called prana, meaning energy) is the primary focus of Kundalini and essential to expand sensory awareness.
Bikram (or hot yoga): this practice was pioneered by Bikram Choudhury, and is often referred to as hot yoga. It is practiced in a heated room (generally 95 to 100 degrees), which allows tight muscles to relax and calls for a whole lot of sweating! Bikram is a set series of 26 poses, but not all hot yoga classes utilize the set series.
Moksha: Moksha hot yoga was founded in Toronto in 2004 by yoga teachers Ted Grant and Jessica Roberts. Although this style of yoga is new, it has quickly gained popularity and there are studios worldwide, including in Canada, the United States, Switzerland, and the Caribbean. Moksha utilizes a set series of poses that are practiced in a hot room; this style is designed to be both accessible and challenging. Moksha is renowned as the “green, clean, hot yoga series that stretches, strengthens and tones the muscles while detoxifying the body and calming the mind”.
Restorative: in this style of yoga, props are used to support the body so the yogi(ni) can hold poses for longer periods of time, allowing the body to open through passive stretching. Restorative poses are generally adapted from a seated yoga posture with the addition of blocks, bolsters, and blankets to eliminate unnecessary straining. This style of yoga is excellent for individuals recovering from injuries or for people with physical restrictions that may keep them from trying another style of yoga. It is truly the yoga style for everybody … and all bodies!
Sivananda: is a hatha-style yoga practice that focuses on preserving the health and wellness of the practitioner. Sivananda training revolves around frequent relaxation, and emphasizes full, yogic breathing. Sivananda philosophy follows five principles, including proper exercise, breathing, relaxation, diet, and positive thinking and meditation.
Yin: in this style of yoga, the poses are held for long periods of time in order to the stretch the connective tissue (fascia) around the joints. Yin yoga directly addresses the demands that sitting still in one position for a long time, such as sitting at a desk or in meditation, places on the body. The focus is on slowly stretching the connective tissue instead of the muscles.
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