What type of yoga should I practice?

What style is right for you may change over the course of your yoga practice. Here is a quick guide to 6 styles. I would encourage you to try them all. Here we are doing goat yoga (which needs no explanation!).

1. Vinyasa - translates to flow

   This often includes sequences that transition into each other. It may allow for time between poses to rest and the speed of the class varies with the instructor and the goal of the class. You can expect sun salutations and synchronising poses with breath.

2. Hatha - slower yoga

   Similar asana to vinyasa, but the class is generally a much slower pace to ensure time to explain the execution of the poses and allow the practitioner to deepen into both breath and pose. These can feel very relaxing.

3. Ashtanga - set sequence with flow between poses

   This set sequence of poses is very repetitive so that it helps purify the mind and body. Often practiced quite quickly and is a challenging practice. Even the primary series includes advanced poses.

4. Yin - longer holds and slow paced

   Inspired by Taoist principles of energy flow within us, often holding for long enough to reach places not usually reached and release blocked energy. You can expect deep breathing, a meditative state, long holds and “finding comfort in discomfort”

5. Kundalini - awakening feminine energy

   With Hindu roots this yoga class always includes chanting & co-ordinating movement with breath. The poses may be moved into and out of for a few minutes, each with their own chant. The idea is to activate the shanti and give you better awareness of yourself.

6. Bikram - hot yoga

   Bikram yoga is a repetitive sequence of 26 poses, although other hot yoga classes, also held in up to 105 degrees F, have developed from it. It can include difficult breathing exercises and caution should be exerciesd by those with high blood pressure, new to yoga or who feel faint. This yoga increases blood circulation and enhances metabolism whilst releasing toxins. You will be sweating, so a yoga towel is useful on your mat and water by it.