One Size Does Not Fit All

One Size Does Not Fit All

Find Your Yoga Style

You browse the internet looking for a yoga class. “Hatha at 6pm, Bikram at 10am, Iyengar at 9am.”  It’s confusing.  How do you decide which class is good for you?

Let’s take a step back and look at yoga as an umbrella.  The majority of yoga as we know in the U.S. is a form of Hatha yoga which means you are physically moving through asanas (poses) versus simply meditating, chanting or taking part in other devotions.  Under the Hatha umbrella, you would find various styles like Anusara, Ashtanga, Vinyasa among many other popular styles.

Just like you and me, yoga styles differ.  To say one is better than another would not be correct.  Each style offers a different experience to its students.  If you enjoy props and extra instruction, you may find yourself in an Iyengar class.  Those looking for a therapeutic style may turn to Anusara.

Today, you can find these traditional styles along with numerous hybrids. Vinyasa yoga moves from pose to pose connecting the mind, body and breath.  It is one of the most popular styles that branched out with variations like Hot Flow, Prana Flow®, Gentle Flow, and Heated Vinyasa.

So, how do you know which style fits you?  Read the descriptions of the yoga styles or ask the teacher for a more in-depth description.  Next, try out the class.  You may realize you don’t want a teacher pointing out every imperfection but rather a class that allows you to find your own flow.

There is a style of yoga for every BODY.  Whether you are a young, athlete or a working professional, yoga is one outlet that can truly meet the needs for everyone.  You may even find you like several styles depending on your daily needs. 

Routine Harvest - Preparing for Winter

Labor Day marks the official end of late nights, fireflies, running through the sprinkler and sipping iced tea on the porch.  Our bodies naturally begin to shift into a fall routine – going to bed earlier, returning to the gym, taking the kids to afterschool practices.  Even our diets begin to change from the cool salads to warmer dishes like chili and soup.  (Tailgating, anyone?)

Vata, one of the three Ayurveda doshas, begins to rise, as the air grows crisp and dry.  When in balance, Vata creates mental awareness and creativity.  When out of balance, Vata causes anxiety, irritability and constipation.  Vata is at its peak come November and December just in time for the holiday season.

We can lay a strong foundation now to prevent any added anxiety in the winter.  I, too, have struggled with my own meditation practice abandoning it when my daughter arrived this summer.  I noticed I became more agitated and impatient without a few minutes of mental silence a day.  Before I became a parent, I would awake after a full night of sleep ready to jump into a meditation practice.  But now, I find myself falling asleep and struggling to calm my mind when I know the baby will wake in less than an hour.

Now that summer is over, I’m ready to try again.  I’ve thrown out what I did before and started fresh.  Each morning, I spend quality time with my daughter first then move into a yoga practice.  My practices change depending on what I need that day – energizing, rejuvenating, restoring.  After I’ve moved, I can then find the quietness in my mind to lie in meditation.  That’s right – LIE in meditation.  I take on the same savasana (deep relaxation / corpse pose) we are familiar with at the end of a yoga class for my own meditation time.  Connecting and sinking into the earth comforts my mind and allows me to let go of my racing thoughts.

Get back to your practice.  Set up a routine now and reap the benefits come winter.