Yoga comes in so many forms and with so many options: of style, of teacher, of time, of place. Gone are the days when you picked a class because it was the only one you could get to. Picking a style you like is often dependent on your own energy levels, what you want to get from it and how you want to feel.
Having done yoga in one form or another for almost 20 years, I started off just doing a class that was most convenient. For me, this started with Iyengar where the focus is on alignment. For years I didn’t see the point in exercise unless you were sweating so I would use Hatha yoga on a Friday to simply stretch my hamstrings from hammering myself in the gym. When I started to see yoga as the exercise, rather than for it, I enjoyed Vinyasa flow for the dance-like strong sequences, and then I found Ashtanga.
Yoga is supposed to be about leaving your ego at the door; to not be competitive or compare yourself to anyone else. But for someone naturally competitive, Ashtanga brought out that side that I didn’t like. The whole reason I did yoga was to be on my little island of the mat.
Next, I tried Mysore which follows the Ashtanga sequence but taken at your own speed. This suited my need for going at it alone, and for not sticking to an exact routine, but even though the only person competing with me was myself, she still annoyed me!
It wasn’t until years later in my mid 30s that I went to a slower class. I will never forget waking up in a Restorative class with the realisation that I’d missed the first 10 minutes and wasn’t moving my hand as instructed! The teacher said it was obviously what I needed at that time.
These days I am much more drawn to slower classes like Yin for the stretchy stuff and I’m not adverse to a yoga nidra (yogic sleep). I feel we need to switch off so much more now and I can’t tell you how much easier it is to nap with the meditative quality of this practice.
When someone told me all they did was one form of yoga and it was all about the discipline I thought they were going to get injured from the repetition. How can you want to do the same thing all the time? But as an ex-swimmer who swam 6 times a week – I now crave variety. Whatever floats your boat, as they say!
When choosing the right yoga style for you, I recommend doing what is right for the body at that time. That certainly isn’t the same day to day or even moment to moment so remember to check in with yourself regularly to see what it is you might need. Personality is also key for me and whether you click with the instructor. I’ve had strict teachers I loved for being so affirmative, but I also know the most beautiful souls who will guide me through a yoga sequence in the gentlest way.
My own teaching style is injury specific focusing on conscious movement in alignment…TRY A CLASS FOR FREE HERE
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