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Wherever you are on your yoga journey...Find yoga for you!

There are many different styles of yoga, to suit every body, from traditional ashtanga, to more modern contemporary styles such as vinyasa flow, power yoga, and then more gentle styles such as restorative (yin) yoga to pregnancy yoga. All of which are yogic styles/ pathways that can lead to improved wellbeing, 'uniting your body with your mind', aiding a better sense of connectedness to self, relief of stress, and better physical and mental health.

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What are the benefits of yoga? 

Yoga can aid healing, both mentally and physically. However, it is best to discuss or inform your teacher of any physical injuries you take a class, and especially if you are a first-time participant. The teacher is there to teach, help and guide you through each class, and provide advice, on ways to adjust your practise, so you can learn and progress with more practise. 

There are many other benefits of yoga for body, mind and lifestyle.

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Ashtanga 

Ashtanga Yoga was founded by Pattabhi Jois. It is a traditional Indian style of yoga, dynamic in style with a fixed sequence, beginning with a warm-up sequence of Surya Namaskara A & B (Sun Salutations A & B),  then progresses to standing, seated poses, inversions such as headstands, and back-bending poses. Every class ends with final relaxation in Savasana. 

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Vinyasa Flow 

Vinyasa means to 'move with the breath',  which essentially is the core of yoga - the breath or 'prana'.  Moving with your breath through a 'flow' of poses. Vinyasa classes will start with a warm up and a relaxation period at the end. There is no set sequence of poses - this will depend on how the teacher has sequenced the class and their style or theme for the class. Classes can vary from dynamic and awakening, to more soft and supple.  

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Restorative Yoga (Yin) 

Yin yoga is a very gentle style of yoga, using props to support the body in positions for longer, which will allow a deeper release for the muscles, joints, mind and body. Yin provides balance to our fast paced lives, encouraging mindfulness and deep relaxation. It is particularly useful if you are recovering from injuries or lead a very active lifestyle or need to de-stress. 

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Pregnancy Yoga 

Whether you are pregnant or have just had your baby, pregnancy yoga provides a range of movement, breath work and meditation, so mum can take care of her body and baby to prepare for birth, and look after it post-birth, safely. It is a great way to connect with your baby and enjoy your body, whilst maintaining your health.

 

What style should you do? 

Wherever you are in your yoga journey, if you are just starting out or a more experienced practitioner, you will find a style of yoga that will fit best for you. Trying out different styles is the best way to find out what works for you. If you are a more experienced practitioner, you may just tend to go with one style, and if you are someone who enjoys trying different things to explore your boundaries / body/ mind more, a blend of two or three may suit you.

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How many times a week should I practise? 

Having a regular yoga practise is beneficial for your mental and physical health, however it is also dependent on the amount of time you have and how much you want to practise. If you are just starting out, a class a week should be enough for your to start getting to know the basics and learn how what it is about. After a while, you may want to increase this to two  to three times a week, and incorporate a different style of class, to aid your mood/ body and life. This is entirely your choice, as you get to know yourself and how yoga is benefitting you on your yoga journey. Yoga is not supposed to be easy or just for athletic, or flexible people, it is for everyone to conscious work with their mind and body throughout a moving form of meditation. 

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What should I look for in a class/ studio? 

You will find many different types of classes and studios. Some teachers hire spaces and run their own classes and courses, and you may be expected to bring your own mat. Or there are studios where they hire the teachers and they have a wide variety of teachers, and styles of classes. They often charge a drop-in price and/ or a membership fee, and you can hire mats or buy them at this space. Ask the studio/ teacher if you have any queries, or research and check reviews online. You should always practise in  a clean space, that has the appropriate amount of space to accommodate the students and little disruption. 

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What should I be looking for in a teacher? 

Ultimately you should look for the teachers qualifications, theses will be listed on their 'About' page where you can find out more about that teacher and their particular style of teaching, where they trained, how many hours of teaching practise they have and if they specialist in any style in particular. Teaching styles can greatly vary due to their practise, so if you are used to going a certain class, and another teacher is covering, expect variations in that class, and this is purely down to the teachers style of practise. 

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What do I need for a class? 

If you have your own mat - you can bring it! If not, studios will normally hire the mats out for £1 each. Towels are available for hire of £1. All other props will be readily available. 

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