How does one go about picking a type of yoga and getting started?

Question

With the growing interest in healthy lifestyles, more Americans are looking for ways to achieve balance—and stay fit. Practicing yoga is an excellent way to do both of those things, but with so many disciplines to choose from it’s important to pick the one that’s right for you. Tell us how you discovered your perfect yoga style, and why you chose it.

Answer 1

I started by researching yoga styles online and decided to start with absolute beginners DVDs that are designed to introduce people to the basics, such as yoga history, proper breathing, and basic techniques. I did this just as a sample to see what classes I might want to take, as actual instruction by a qualified teacher is really valuable, especially in making sure that you have proper form and guidance from someone that can observe you.

I really like Kundalini yoga because it strengthens my spine and really energizes me. The first time I tried spinal exercises in this style, I noticed a big difference. I didn't even realize how much pressure and tension there was in my back until it was gone!

Internet research, DVDS and books can be a great supplement to yoga classes. Although one should use careful judgment with things found online, the internet is an excellent source for finding yoga texts and info.

Answer 2

This is a great question. I suppose it is always wise to chose a style of yoga suited for your temperament. I found my way to Iyengar Yoga by accident and have found that it has been wonderfully suited to my needs. This school of yoga was founded by BSK Iyengar and is a style of hatha yoga. It was really great for me because Iyengar pioneered the use of props such as straps and blocks which is great because I was really, really out of shape when I started. Iyegnar doesn't start with breathing also known as pranayana yoga until the student has been practicing for at least 1-2 years. Most yoga schools start with a minimal amount of breath training.

Perhaps the best way would be grab a yellow pages or a local alternative health magazine in your area and see what is available. You could call them and ask a little bit about them or go on line and see what information is available. You might try a drop in class if that is allowed (some studios or ashrams may ask that you take a fundamental course first) so you can observe and perhaps try it out. After wards you decide which style of yoga felt best. Truthfully the asanas are approximately the same from school to school although you may find variations. The main difference is the style of the instructor and the emphasis. Another good source is yoga journal.

Answer 3

For me, and I'm not an exerciser so its hard to find something that will motivate me for any length of time, I got a DVD from my dad called "Yoga for Dummies". Sara Ivanhoe is the instructor on the video and I have the first in the set - with Beginner and Intermediate practices. I really love it. I can use it whenever I want basically. The beginner practice is really pretty long but once you have done it a few times, there is a card that comes with the DVD that shows all the poses so you can do them yourself without the video if you don't have time for the whole practice. I really like that about it. Also, the Intermediate practice is quite a challenge and when you have completed it you feel like you have accomplished something. You can alternate or work your way up or take a week off and start at the beginning again. Whatever works for you. And it has helped me to "zone out" and let go of some of the everyday stresses that get to a person after a while.

You can probably get the DVD for less than $15.00 if you were willing to bargain shop for it and you should also have a yoga mat to practice on. Other than that there is no big start-up cost or anything like that.

I'm just a regular person and I think yoga is good for you and it is a great indication of what you put into it, you'll get out of it. If you are willing to try it and be open-minded, it is a good form of exercise; if you want to make more of it than it truly is, you lose the benefits.

Good luck to you.

Answer 4

I need the answer to the same question. I'm getting older and want to stay healthy and live a active lifestyle. I am currently taking a tai chi class which is fun, but I also want to find a good yoga that would be right for me. I know there are yoga classes on fit tv which is called neteseta I think is the correct name. Some even use the ball. I am going to try a Hatha Yoga and see how that works, it's free so I have nothing to lose. Let me know what you find out. I am very interested.

Thanks

Rose

Answer 5

I've been practicing yoga since I was 15 (almost 12 years) and have tried many different styles. My personal favorite is Bikram Yoga, because I love the hot room. Some people can't stand it (it is quite difficult until you get used to the heat), but now I feel amazing after a great sweat. The room is heated to 100-105 degrees, and the class is 90 minutes. Bikram is also good because it is EVERYWHERE, and it is always taught the same.

If you're really not into the heat, but want a vigorous, physically challenging workout, Ashtanga Yoga is great. There are several levels of difficulty, so even as you progress you will always be challenged. Ashtanga is great for building strength evenly throughout your body.

If you'd rather have a slower paced workout that is more focused on alignment and balance than on strength building, Iyengar Yoga might be for you. Iyengar focusing primarily on proper alignment throughout every pose, and will improve your balance.

And if you want a more spiritual class that incorporates yoga's spiritual roots, Anusara Yoga is great. It is a great all around workout, but you will learn the spiritual principles that yoga is based on. This is great if you are a meditator, and want to incorporate you physical exercise into your spiritual practices.

Answer 6

I started pregnancy yoga about 5 months ago. I picked the particular style, Kundalini, because it was the closest yoga studio to my home. I know there are other styles in the large city, but that is over an hour and a half away.

That being said, I absolutely love it. All the instructors are excellent and everyone there is very kind. I fully intend to continue with the baby classes after the baby arrives and then continue on my own.

Phsically it's fantastic. First of all, I've had serious upper back tension/pain for the past couple years. One of the things we do is hold our arms up in different ways for long periods of time and this is the only thing that has relieved my back. The other exercises are just great: challengeing, strechy, really learning to breathe, all good for pregnancy and birth.


To all the Christians who have been told that yoga will corrupt your spirit:

After attending yoga for a few weeks, I have never enjoyed attending mass more than I do now. There is a good amount of meditation and chanting, but one of the main purposes seems to be to really look for God, not look for "evil spirits". It's a completely different type of prayer than is most often taught and practiced at church, instead of talking, you are listening. And God is always sending so many messages of well-being and peace that you might not know about unless you learn to listen.

It seems very odd that people dismiss yoga based on what people at church say who probably have no experience with yoga. Why is their opinion without experience any more qualified to decide what is spiritually good for you than you are?

Anyway, I'm pretty high on pregnancy hormones right now, but this is how I picked the yoga style that I practice and why I am happy to have picked it.

Answer 7

I've been practicing yoga for almost 5 years, and I came to it like most Americans do -- looking for a way to build fitness and alleviate stress. I started with a gym-based yoga program, essentially a fusion of tai chi, pilates and hatha yoga. As I got more into it, I began to notice a BIG difference in teachers, and chose my classes accordingly. Now I like a mix of Vinyasa Yoga, with the occasional Hatha/Restorative class or Ashtanga/Power class for variety. From my perspective, here are some things that will help a yoga neophyte to get started:

Find an accessible yoga program at a local gym, YMCA or community center. I think these offerings are more geared towards beginners and casual practitioners.

Tell the teacher that you've never done yoga before. I've seen many "newbies" struggle through class because they didn't admit their inexperience. A good teacher will help guide you through your first time, and suggest modifications for poses to make them more comfortable for you to learn.

Do at least 5 classes before deciding you don't like a class/teacher/style. Sometimes your unfamiliarity with the poses and the format colors your attitude. If it still doesn't work for you after 5 times, try another program.

Once you've had a practical introduction to it, do some research about yoga. With a little bit of experience under your belt, you can make a much more informed decision about the best type of yoga for you.

Answer 8

The best way to choose a yoga style is to become educated about it. Finding a teacher will require the same research. To find a good teacher, inquire about their training. Depending on your area, some teachers are not required anything, and just about anyone can be a yoga teacher. An ethical teacher will be happy to share their yoga education, and their personal practice. You can read about various forms of yoga at www.yogajournal.com Beginners to yoga may want to start with Iyengar Yoga, as that is a form of yoga which teaches progressively. Check out www.bksiyengar.com My experience was that I tried different classes in different settings: gym, park, yoga studio, until I found the style of yoga which resonated with me. That style was Iyengar yoga, as it helped my back pain. It seemed to be a scientifically and sound anatomically yoga. I have been practicing for 12 years, and have been reaping the benefits: no PMS, sound sleep, increased strength and endurance, and a quiet mind. The longer I study Iyengar Yoga, the deeper my interest in it.
p.s. Being a Christian, yoga has actually deepened my faith, as yoga is not a religion. Yoga is the study of the self.

Answer 9

Yoga, is the union of mind, body and spirit.Before you start taking a Yoga class you must decide which type meets your needs. The following four styles of Yoga are the most popular types in the United States.

Hatha Yoga
This is the most popular type of Yoga taught in the United States. It focuses on poses and postures, including controlled breathing and emphasizing concentration, endurance and elasticity.

Kundalini Yoga
This type incorporates chanting, meditation and guided relaxation through breathing.

Kripalu Yoga
Kripalu, is another type of Yoga that is widely taught in the United States. It is a free flowing type of Yoga. The person holds their poses lightly.

Lyengar Yoga
This type focuses on detail and precise body alignment. You hold the poses for a longer amount of time than the other types.

Part of choosing the types of Yoga you work with is picking the instructor that you feel comfortable with. It is recommended that you select someone that has a number of years of education and training practice. Your instructor needs to describe which muscles are being exercised for each pose. He or she must also make sure that your poses are done correctly. You must also learn the proper breathing techniques. Finally, as the student, you must inform your instructor of all-past and current medical problems and injuries. This way any type of modification can be done.

As we know Yoga is an exercise that demands dedication and practice. Yoga should not be viewd as a cure for your conditions. It is suggested that you stay away from competing with other. Yoga depends on your individual needs and availabilities. Always try to avoid injury. You must not hold the poses past the limits your body can handle. Any setbacks can cause a delay in reaching the mind, body and spirit work you are trying to achieve.

Yoga is not known as a fat-burning exercise. On the other side, Yoga can be used by anybody, anytime, anywhere, reguardless of your fitness level. The mind-body experiences that are achieved can be extraordinary. People that use Yoga fifteen minutes a day usually see positive results.

Yoga is seen to help relieve stress in our daily lives. It teaches us how to loosen up and discharge tension by becoming attentive to our body. A healthy lifestyle can be reached when Yoga is used correctly.
union of mind, body and spirit.

Answer 10

Finding the right style of yoga and a teacher who can teach it is still a difficult task, since most experienced yoga teachers are concentrated in California and New York. If you don't live in a large city where there are several studios offering many different styles of yoga, and if you are unable to "explore" the many different styles at a large conference such as the Yoga Journal Conference, you may have to invest in a diverse library of books and DVDs via a metasource such as amazon.com or yahoo shopping. Perhaps you have a couple of friends who are also interested in yoga, and each of you could purchase a different DVD emphasizing a different style. I was interested in yoga for many years while living in Arkansas, but never found a teacher until I moved to California. I started out with Bikram yoga because I enjoyed the intensity, but eventually became bored with the mono-sequence and the repetitive "dialog." It was also missing any kind of spiritual teaching, which left me feeling empty. Eventually, I found a strong power vinyasa class that blends the best of Iyengar and Astanga styles, for an invigorating class that's different every time. The teacher, however, is more important than the style, per se. A good vinyasa yoga teacher eventually teaches a style of his or her own, and will be a good inspiration for you to eventually take your practice home with you. Now I'm back in Arkansas, and I do yoga every day -- in my own living room -- because my teacher is still in California!

Answer 11

What I did before I started taking yoga classes was I went dvd shopping. I bought way too many yoga mats and different dvd's before I found a beginner yoga that came with a mat and a rope/ belt to help me stretch. I recommend using the belt unless you are already very flexible and can touch your toes in mid air without raising your back and kneck. After a week of doing the beginning yoga I went and bought Power Yoga w/ Rodney Yee. The beginning dvd was the same guy, I found both at Target for around $10-20 a piece. I was amazed how much more I got from the dvd's than the actual classes. I highly recommend this one! After the first few days I was really sore than it wore off. Then when I started the power yoga it really got to me. Now I am able to work out with the balance ball at ease before I couldn't; I kept falling off. LOL...