Whether you’re an adult looking to begin a steady yoga practice, an elder looking for some soothing stretches, or a parent looking for classes for your child, there is a yoga class out there for you.
Yoga is one of the most welcoming concepts in the world because it is true for everyone. Anyone at any age and athletic level can practice yoga in one way or another.
This guide will help you decide which class and teaching method will work best for starting your yoga journey!
Why Practice Yoga?
“The body benefits from movement, and the mind benefits from stillness.” - Sakyong Mipham
Overall, yoga is a practice that exercises, soothes, and creates balance in the body, mind, and spirit. However, specific benefits include:
- Improved self-confidence.
- A better understanding of flexibility, strength, and the body as a whole.
- Increased knowledge of the self.
- Mindfulness and better breath control.
- Increased physical health.
- Better sleep.
- Increased strength.
- Increased ability to handle stressful situations.
Children can especially benefit from the social aspect of yoga. Making friends with the other yogis in the class as well as the teacher can be a pivotal experience for them.
Choosing a Type of Yoga for Beginners
There are many different schools, or styles, of yoga. But, for beginners, the most popular are:
- Hatha
- Vinyasa
- Ashtanga
- Iyengar
- Yin
- Restorative
- Power
- Children’s or Kids
If this seems overwhelming, don’t worry. You have the freedom to try as many types of yoga as you’d like! You can also try different teachers since each yoga instructor will have different energy and methodology.
Before you try a class, identify your personal starting point as well as your goals for practicing. Do you want to get stronger? Do you need help with your everyday standing posture? Do you need to recover from an injury?
Find yoga classes near me in India on Superprof. On Superprof, you will find certified yoga trainers from all over India, book your classes in 3 easy steps!
How To Choose Your Type of Yoga
If you are new to Yoga or looking to start Yoga classes, here are the factors that will help you decide your type of yoga classes:
Your Fitness Level
Determine your personal starting fitness level, and be honest. If you choose a class that is too difficult or goes against a condition that you have (like a heart condition), you could end up hurting yourself. You may also simply not enjoy the class.
Check with your doctor to make sure that yoga will not worsen any health problems.
If you choose a class that is too easy, you might feel unfulfilled at the end of class if you were not challenged enough.
Yoga is for people of all fitness levels, but when you take a class, you need to make sure it is suitable for your body in the present.
Your Requirements for a Yoga Teacher
Do you need a teacher who is trauma-informed, specializes in pre-natal or pregnancy yoga, or provides extensive hands-on adjustment?
Whatever your personal needs, there is a yoga teacher out there who can provide them. Whether you attend a class or hire a private instructor, you can shop around and try different teachers to find the one who clicks with you best.
Your Personal Goals
Identify your personal goals for starting a yoga practice. Common goals are:
- Increased strength, mobility, flexibility, and endurance
- Increased lung and circulatory system function
- Recovery from injury
- Ease pain
- Create a healthy habit
Your goal will influence which style of yoga best suits your needs, as well as which kind of teacher you will resonate with.
3 Best Yoga Exercises for Fitness
"There is no need to struggle to be free. The absence of struggle is in itself freedom." – Chogyam Trungpa
Hatha
Most yoga styles fall under the umbrella term of Hatha, which simply indicates that the breath is used in tandem with movement.
You can find pure Hatha classes which will have you holding/exploring active poses for a few breaths, before moving on to the next posture.
Hatha-flow classes incorporate the transitions into the focus as well, which means you will mindfully and fluidly transition from pose to pose, holding them in between.
The intention of the class is to increase body awareness and flexibility and benefit from a mild meditative state.
Vinyasa
Vinyasa is a type of Hatha yoga, meaning that the breath plays a big part in the pacing of movement.
It is generally similar to a Hatha-flow class, but more vigorous, meaning you will experience more of a workout. The intention of the class is generally the same as Hatha, with the added goal of increasing strength and endurance.
Vinyasa originated as a variation of Ashtanga, so the styles are similar. The biggest difference is that Vinyasa can be different every time, whereas Ashtanga has a rigid set of postures.
This is a good place to start if you are already pretty physically fit and feel that Hatha isn’t challenging enough for you.
Power
Power yoga has all of the most difficult aspects of Ashtanga yoga with the goal of exerting the body and creating strength.
It allows the yogi to practice great control of the breath since you’ll quickly begin panting if you don’t practice pranayama!
This style is best for athletes who want to gain more strength in new ways. Power yoga often attracts people who aren’t very interested in the spiritual side of yoga, since it’s the most like pure exercise.
If you are totally new to any physical regimen, you should probably not start with Power yoga. Because of the nature of the style, those who aren’t experienced with exerting their bodies might find that they suffer from dehydration, injury, or fainting.
Best Yoga Techniques for Body and Mind Connection
"Hatha Yoga teaches us to use the body as the bow, asana as the arrow, and the soul the target." - B.K.S. Iyengar
Ashtanga
Ashtanga is similar to Vinyasa, but it is a much more rigorous practice.
This is another style of yoga that will suit people who are already physically active and need a more challenging practice to feel satisfied.
To embark on the full Ashtanga journey, there are 8 limbs, or pillars, to consider:
- Yamas (Principles)
- Niyamas (Discipline)
- Asana (Postures)
- Pranayama (Breath)
- Pratyahara (Withdrawal of Awareness)
- Dharana (Concentration in Meditation)
- Dhyana (Self-Contemplation in Meditation)
- Samadhi (Salvation, Bliss)
You do not need to commit to the full Ashtanga journey to enjoy Ashtanga classes!
This is the class style to pursue if you are interested in performing Surya Namaskar and being able to acutely notice your areas of physical improvement since you perform the same postures every time. Because you can memorize the flow, you are more able to tap into a moving meditation mindset.
Iyengar
Aptly named for its creator, B.K.S. Iyengar, this style utilizes props and encourages individualistic alignment. It truly is one of the best yoga classes for all!
It focuses on holding postures rather than flowing, so you have more time to settle into the pose and reap the benefits of finding the perfect alignment for your body.
If you have health problems, especially musculoskeletal problems that limit your movement compared to others, Iyengar yoga is the best place to start. You will learn how to work with your specific range of motion to achieve optimal health and strength through yoga.
Iyengar himself was a very sickly child but persisted in tweaking yoga to suit his own needs, which lead to a long and healthy life.
Children’s or Kids
While some of the other styles may be suitable for kids there are specific classes that children can attend, especially for those under 12.
Younger kids are often distracted and might find it hard to stay engaged with a yoga class if it isn’t exciting. Children's yoga teachers know how to make the flow and the cues interesting and fun.
Slightly older kids can also benefit from a children’s class if they have never been to yoga before. It might be too intimidating to join an adult class right away, so starting with a kid’s class can be helpful!
Depending on your child’s nature, you might find that they are ready to enroll in adult classes of another style when they are around 10-13 years old. After all, Ashtanga was created specifically for 12-year-olds!
Best Yoga Styles for Relaxation and Flexibility
“Be – don’t try to become. Being is enlightenment, becoming is ignorance.” – Osho
Yin
Similar to Iyengar and Hatha, Yin yoga focuses on holding poses for a long time (up to 20 minutes!). The breath, body, and mind can all achieve tranquility in the duration.
This style is especially helpful for the hips, pelvis, and lower spine, and is focused on working with the tendons, bones, and joints of the whole body. By contrast, active (or Yang) styles of yoga generally focus more on the muscles.
Yin postures often feel uncomfortable at first because they push you past your usual range of motion. Asanas are both active and passive.
It might appear boring, but actually, there is an intense focus on the breath and body. Even though you spend a lot of time not moving, there is a lot going on every second.
Props are often used, such as a bolster, strap, block, or weight to help the yogi to reach a deeper stretch.
Restorative
Restorative might appear similar to Yin in some ways. However, the purpose of Restorative yoga is… to restore! The poses are gentle and often encourage a slow, comfortable opening of the heart and hips. Many props are utilized.
It is a good passive style that can help fight the effects of everyday stress on the body, like hunching over a computer, standing for long periods of time, and neck strain.
The body, breath, and mind should be able to naturally relax and slow down. This yoga style can feel more like being at a spa than a yoga class. You might even need to be careful to not fall asleep!
Find yoga classes near me in Pune.
Where to Find Your Yoga Class
So, you know your needs, you know what kind of class you are looking for. Now, where do you go to class?
There are several options available!
In-Person
You can find yoga training nearby by looking at local yoga studios, searching in newspapers, word-of-mouth, and online. You may find that your child’s school offers classes or has a partnership with a youth club in the area to provide classes after school!
With Superprof, you can find yoga teachers near you that teach all different kinds of styles. Research and schedule classes online, and you can arrange for a private instructor!
Price ranges vary by location, facility, and experience of the teacher. Typically, a group class will be less expensive than a private session.
Online
If you would rather have virtual yoga classes, you have many options.
Many studios also offer virtual pre-recorded or live-stream classes. For live instruction, you can also look for an online yoga teacher with Superprof.
Once again, prices will vary as most prices depend upon the experience, style, and level of the learner. So, if you are looking for yoga training near you, then the best option is to learn online.
For a free option, check out the best YouTube channels for yoga in 2022!
Some channels you can explore are:
- Yoga with Adriene
- The Yoga Institute
- Yoga by Candace
- Koya Webb
- Yoga with Tim
- Cosmic Kids Yoga
- Samyak Yoga
- Purple Valley Ashtanga Yoga
- YogRiti
- Yogasini
10 Best Yoga Teacher Training in India in 2023
Some well-known and reputable yoga teacher training centers in India include:
- Rishikesh Yoga Peeth
- Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Dhanwantari Ashram
- Parmarth Niketan
- Yoga Alliance Professionals
- AYM (Association for Yoga and Meditation)
- Yoga Vidya Gurukul
- Atmabodha Yoga
- Yoga Institute, Santacruz
- Isha Yoga Center
- Kaivalya Yoga School
Now that you know more about pursuing yoga classes, what are you waiting for?
Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
