Styles of Yoga and what one is best for me? By: Alison Tigges
Go to any yoga studio or gym and you’ll see a dozen different names and styles of yoga on the schedule. It can be overwhelming! Add to that, the fact that each studio has its own spin on what each style means to them, plus each teacher has their own unique interpretation….it can be a lot to try to understand!
Short answer: The best style of yoga is the one you enjoy and will go to consistently!
Yoga works best when you go consistently, so start there! One Tree Yoga has a 2 week pass for new yoga students that allows you to try out as many styles and teachers as you can. This is a great way to find your favorites. And If you are already a regular yoga practitioner, may I humbly suggest our membership options? It saves you money when you attend class 2 times a week or more.
Long answer: There are tips and tricks to sifting through yoga schedules and styles to find the best style(s) for you. Here are a few considerations:
1. Go to the studio website and read the class descriptions. Like I mentioned earlier, every studio/gym has their own spin on things, and each teacher is unique in their approach. You can find detailed class descriptions on our website: https://onetreeyoga.com/styles-of-yoga. This is a great place to start.
2. Consider not only what you are drawn to, but also what you might NEED. Sometimes those align, and sometimes they do not. For many of us, we are drawn to things that coincide with how we already operate. For example, I am a go-getter. I love to push myself and exert a lot of physical energy. I come from an athletic background. So naturally, when I started yoga, I gravitated towards styles like hot and vinyasa. And it was awesome! It helped me establish a consistent practice and sparked my desire to teach. But, as time went on, I knew I needed to counterbalance all that fire with some chill. So, practicing hatha, yin/restorative, and meditation become medicine for me. It is worth inquiring of yourself: what do I want AND what do I need?
3. A well-rounded practice tends to serve people best. Do all the styles! It is a sure way to find more balance on and off the mat. Hot yoga is amazing, but if that is all you ever do, you miss out on things like hip openers, arm balances and down dog. Yin is amazing but if that’s all you ever do, you miss out on movement, flow, and strength building.
4. There is a teacher for everyone. My take on a vinyasa class is slightly different than Gabe’s and that is slightly different than Dana’s, etc. As teachers, we all approach our classes from our own experience, so it is worth trying different instructors out and see what speaks to you.
5. Make sure you know the level of the class. Some will be labelled beginners (this is awesome for people brand-new to yoga and for not new people wanting to brush up on technique and knowledge), all-levels (the most common kind of class these days, where instructors offer lots of pose stages and modifications for the newest students to the most experienced), to intermediate/advanced classes. Make sure you know what you are getting into!
One of the things I am most proud of at OTY is our diverse schedule of styles and teachers. We do an exceptional job (if I do say so myself) of holding true to the traditions of yoga while also keeping it current, relevant, and unique. Please ask us questions! We are here to help you continue (or begin) your yoga journey.