What style of yoga should you try?

There are so many different styles and types of yoga. Which yoga practice is right for you?

Disclaimer: this is not ALL of the different yoga styles, but mainly the ones I'm familiar with/teach/or practice myself. There are a lot of different kinds of yoga out there.

Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self. - The Bhagavad Gita

1. Restorative Yoga

Restorative yoga focuses on restoration of the body and mind and achieving calmness through passive and supported postures. When I teach a restorative class, I typically only teach 5-7 postures the entire hour. All of these poses are grounded, and the postures are held anywhere from 2-15 minutes. Your body is almost always supported by some kind of props. It is a practice designed to create space in your body and relax tense muscles through stillness. Restorative yoga is a drastically different style of yoga from many other practices, and promotes calmness and relaxation. You might even fall asleep!

BUT don't think restorative yoga is NOT challenging. For some, it may be the most challenging practice of all. The real challenge in #restorativeyoga lies in allowing yourself to just simply relax and remain still. The first time I took a restorative class I cried my eyes out. I just could NOT be still with my own thoughts. Over time, that softens, and it may come to be your favorite kind of yoga (as it is mine). If you're new to yoga or have a lot of pain in the body, I HIGHLY recommend you try this style of #yoga.

2. Yin Yoga

Yin yoga can be very similar to restorative, in that the poses are held for a long time. And yin yoga CAN be relaxing. If you see "restorative yin" on a yoga studio's schedule, it is likely going to be similar to what I described in the restorative yoga section. However, #YIN in it's truest form is much more challenging. The poses are held for the same amounts of time, but they tend to be much deeper stretches and less relaxing. (For example, my favorite yin teacher likes to do an 8 minute frog pose). It can sometimes be far from "relaxing" or sleepy. BUT, the goal is the same... create space in the body through stillness and breath. Calm the mind with the gentle focus of the challenging postures and the breath. Some yin classes use props, some do not. This is a great practice to try if you struggle with flexibility, injury or pain.

3. Hatha Yoga

Rather than being a style of yoga, the word Hatha describes any kind of yoga where poses are practiced. (This includes vinyasa, ashtanga and iyengar... just to name a few).

However, if you see the word "Hatha" on a yoga schedule, it is likely a slower movement based class. (This is not to be confused with "H