With the current meteoric rise in yoga’s popularity, the range of class and style options can be confusing. Looking at class schedules can be like trying to learn a whole new language.
Yoga is all about you, so when seeking a class, ask yourself: What do I want from my experience? Are you looking for a workout or a way to relieve stress and find peace of mind? Are you concerned about aging and the loss of flexibility or range of motion? Are you seeking to support a healing process in your body? Do you want to lose weight and gain muscle tone?
Begin your journey by first identifying your immediate needs and goals (these may change over time) and setting your intention clearly in your mind. It might also be helpful to look at your patterns. Like attracts like. Are you allowing the habitual nature of the mind to create your preferences?
For example, if you are living a fast-paced, stressful life, you may instinctively look for a fast-paced, physically demanding style of yoga. But pushing yourself on your yoga mat may be the last thing you need. Ask yourself what will bring balance to your body and into your life.
Getting to know the different styles of yoga is a good starting point in choosing the yoga that’s right for you.
Looking for a vigorous class to burn toxins and impurities? Go for Vinyasa, Power, Core, Bikram, Hot, Ashtanga or Jivamukti. Something therapeutic to heal? Seek out Viniyoga, Hatha, Iyengar, Integrative, Yin and specifically targeted yoga therapy classes. Want to meditate and relax? Try Sivananda, Integral, Gentle, Kundalini or Kripalu.
Being familiar with these styles is definitely helpful, but keep in mind: Every teacher will instruct the defined style differently, as an expression of their personality and life experience. Yoga is flexible!
Check out our class descriptions here!
Please feel free to contact our Yoga Advisor and Program Director, Kristen Butler, at 480.237.2410 or via email at kristen@bodhi-body.com.
Attached Files:
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to the Bodhi Body RSS feed!
