What Yoga Is Best For Me?

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What Yoga Is Best For Me? This is a loaded questions. There are so many different styles and yoga really isn’t a one size fits all program. However, there are key factors to look for when choosing a style of yoga for yourself. Also, be mindful that everyone can benefit from incorporating different styles into their routine. Following different formats is beneficial because you can really customize your yoga routine to help you build strength, create mental clarity and to promote flexibility. It depends on what you are looking for in your practice. So, today we are going to discuss a couple different styles of yoga and what their pros and cons are. This will help you decide what yoga is best for you.

Pacific Yoga & Fitness, online yoga instructor, shares What Yoga Is Best For Me

Hatha Yoga

This style of yoga is slower paced and incorporates meditation and breathwork (pranayama).

Pros

It is really great for almost everyone
It is a good place to start as a beginner yogi.
It can be a good practice for pregnant women (instructor should know modifications).
This format can help with anxiety with the focus on breathwork and meditation.
This style can be easy to find in a studio setting.

Cons

If recovering from injury this may be challenging to jump in to if you don’t know the proper modifications and you have an inexperienced teacher. Although, I would love to say all instructors should know proper modifications and adjustments sometimes we get thrown by something we have never heard of.
Type A’s may struggle with this practice. They will want to fidget, but if they can get past that, this practice can be very beneficial.

Viniyoga

This practice is very personal and is usually done in a one on one setting. It is developed for your personal yoga needs.

Pros

Everyone can do this practice.
It is great for the elderly or people with limited mobility.
It can help with injury recovery.
Also, a great start for surgery recovery.

Cons

Harder to find in a studio
Can be pricey for individual programs and regular check-ins
Growth can take a long time. Student must have patience.

Vinyasa/Power Yoga

This style of yoga is focusing on strength and big bold movements to breath. I have grouped these two together because they are both vigorous and require some amount of endurance and strength.

Pros

Great for Type A’s who like a lot of movement.
Builds strength
Builds endurance
Some yoga knowledge recommended. So you don’t feel overwhelmed and want to quit.

Cons

Modifying for injuries can be challenging
If new to your practice and you attend a vinyasa/power class it can create this feeling of overwhelm. You may think yoga is not for you.
Can be perceived as competitive.

This post may stir up some negative reviews, but I am basing this information off my personal experience as a yoga teacher of 17 years. I have practiced or taken trainings in all of these formats. Every style can be made for almost everyone. Just remember, your instructor, temperature in the room, other students in the class can all be influential on you returning to your mat. My best answer for the question what yoga is best for me? Is just do yoga. Even if its in your home by yourself with a YouTube video. Get on your mat and connect with your breath. Do it every day even if it’s just for five minutes.