The Beginner’ s Guide to Every Type of Yoga Out There
By Christine Yu- Daily Burn Life
You’ ve decided to finally start doing yoga— but after Googling classes in your area, your head is spinning. Should you try Ashtanga or Iyengar? And what’ s the difference between hot yoga and Vinyasa? The array of options can be enough to scare newbies off the mat for good.
But here’ s why you shouldn’ t be scared: Like cross training, incorporating a variety of types of yoga into your regular practice can help keep you balanced, says Nikki Vilella, yoga teacher and studio director at Kula Williamsburg and Kula Soho.“ Try a few different studios, teachers and styles. Then, stick with the one that resonates with you for a good amount of time and be dedicated to the practice,” says Vilella.“ The first day you don’ t like a class shouldn’ t be a reason to bolt and try something new.”
Yoga isn’ t necessarily a‘ one-size-fits-all’ practice, either. Different types of yoga might be best for different people.“ A 20-year-old and a 70-year-old probably don’ t need the same things,” Vilella says.“ Someone who is hyper-mobile and flexible doesn’ t need the same thing as someone who’ s muscular and stiff.”
So with all the choices out there, where do you start? Don’ t lose your ujjayi breath( that’ s yogi speak for calming inhales and exhales). We’ ve got your definitive list of classes that specialize in yoga for beginners— plus tips for identifying the style you might like best.
Yoga for Beginners: The 9 Types You Need to Know
1. Hatha Yoga It’ s all about the basics in these slower moving classes that require you to hold each pose for a few breaths. In many studios, hatha classes are considered a gentler form of yoga. However, the Sanskrit term“ hatha” actually refers to any yoga that teaches physical postures.“ It’ s a practice of the body, a physical practice that balances these two energies. So, in reality, it is all hatha yoga,” Vilella says.
Best for: Beginners. Because of its slower pace, hatha is a great class if you’ re just starting your yoga practice.
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2. Vinyasa Yoga
Get your flow on in this dynamic practice that links movement and breath together in a dance-like way. In most classes, you won’ t linger long in each pose and the pace can be quick, so be prepared for your heart rate to rise. Teachers will often pump music, matching the beats to the sequences of the poses.
Best for: HIIT lovers. Intense exercisers might enjoy Vinyasa because of its faster pace. Runners and endurance athletes are also drawn to Vinyasa class because of the continuous movement.
3. Iyengar Yoga
Here you’ ll get nit-picky about precision and detail, as well as your body’ s alignment in each pose. Props, from yoga blocks and blankets to straps or a ropes wall, will become your new best friend, helping you to work within a range of motion that is safe and effective. Unlike in Vinyasa, each