You’ve decided that you want to try yoga, because you have heard about all the benefits – more comfort in your body, less stress and anxiety, better sleep and better general health. But now you have to pick a class, and even in a small town, there are lots to choose from. So, how do you pick?
You could think about the style of yoga, the level, the qualifications of the teacher, or any specialist needs that you have. It’s always worth asking around for recommendations.
Different Styles
There are many different styles of yoga, some very energetic and athletic, whilst others are slower paced. If you are new to yoga, or if you have any health issues or injuries, it’s worth choosing a slower paced class where you will have time to find the right way to practice each pose in a way that suits your body.
Ashtanga, Vinyasa Flow and Jivanmukti are all energetic styles that link poses together in a sequence. You move with the breath so it can be meditative, but also physically challenging. However, because you move quickly, you need to be familiar with the poses and sure you are practicing in a way that suits your body.
Hatha Yoga is a more traditional style of practice, where you tend to hold poses for longer, which can help to build strength and flexibility. Hatha yoga may include other practices such as meditation or breath work, making it a well rounded practice that will benefit you physically, energetically and mentally. Some haha yoga classes will also include some flowing sequences. Dru Yoga and Sivananda Yoga also come from similar roots and involve gentle practice working with the energy body.
Yin yoga involves holding poses for longer periods again – up to five minutes. It can be challenging and very meditative, and help to build more flexibility. Restorative yoga also involves longer holds of poses, but the poses are designed to be very restful rather than challenging.
Kundalini Yoga is can feel quite different again, with repetitive movements, chanting and breath work, aimed at helping to raise your energy. It might suit you if you are interested in the more spiritual aspect of yoga.
Levels
Many yoga classes are “mixed level” which means they should be suitable for most people, and the teacher will give modifications or variations so that everyone can find they right way to practice for their body.
Some teachers divide classes into Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced. Beginners classes will be suitable for all, and not assume any prior knowledge or physical ability. Intermediate classes will expect you to be familiar with the more common poses, able to sequence them (for example, in a sun salutation) and comfortable with breath awareness practices. Advanced level classes are for those with a regular home practice and a deeper understanding. Teacher Training
Anyone can call themselves a yoga teacher! It’s not well regulated, but many teachers will have trained with one of the major professional bodies. Teacher training is usually designated as 200 hour or 500 hour. A 500 hour course is a lot more in-depth, and will include training on how to teach people with different health conditions.
British Wheel of Yoga is often described as the “gold standard” of yoga teaching, doing mainly 500 hour diploma courses, with a strong focus on modifying poses to suit different people. British Yoga Alliance offers a lot of 200 hour courses, and is also very popular as a route into teaching – their courses vary a lot depending on which teacher runs them.
Specialist Yoga
There are also many yoga classes aimed at specific groups of people, for example, Children’s Yoga, Teen Yoga, Pregnancy Yoga, Chair Yoga, Gentle Years Yoga, Yoga Physio. These classes are really beneficial for people with additional needs.
If you find it difficult to get up and down off the floor, then you should definitely look for a Chair Yoga or Gentle Years yoga class which will be more suitable.
If you are pregnant and taking up yoga for the first time, you will need a specialist yoga class for pregnancy, though experienced practitioners may be able to continue with their existing class.
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