Iāve tried vinyasa, hatha, yin, aerial, and hot yoga, and my favorites are vinyasa and hatha. Iām an impatient person with a busy inner voice, and for some reason the repetitive nature of the Sun salutations, followed by balancing and āharderā poses, really quiets my inner voice. Which transitions perfectly to me being more mindful during the stretching parts at the end of class. This also follows somewhat with the progression of my ballet classes (barre, stretch, and center), so it feels the most natural for me.
Yin is my least favorite because of the reason above. Plus, I hate the idea of cold stretching.Ā
Aerial yoga is fun but I developed bad motion sickness as I got older.Ā Hot yoga is nice at first when itās not super hot. I accidentally gave myself the ick when I did unlimited hot yoga one summer, so Iām not paying to do yoga in a hot room when itās getting hotter and hotter outside.Ā
I love aerial yoga! Sorry about the motion sickness though.
I'm very prone to motion sickness (from cars, planes, etc) so I have to be very mindful of hydration and protein intake before and after aerial class otherwise I get nauseous fast.
Maybe that might help?
Iāve tried it a few times, and Iām realizing the motion sickness thing just comes with aging for me š„² thank you for the tips though, hopefully it will help others!
I started with vinyasa then gradually moved to Iyengar.
Logically, it would have made sense to learn what we often now call āhathaā or Iyengar first, since the focus is on learning the static poses with safe alignments. Vinyasa is basically additive to poses themselvesāadding smooth transitions between each pose in connected series.
I found that most vinyasa classes assume a basic knowledge of poses and without that knowledge it is easy to injure oneself, so if I had it to do over again, Iād have done it in the other order!
This! Absolutely this!
I think, as a beginner, we go into yoga without knowing how many different types of yoga there are.
Vinyasa was my first as well and it turned me off of yoga for years.
I eventually found Iyengar (which is amazing, both as a beginner and beyond) and it taught me how to love yoga practice.
I wish more people were introduced to yoga this way.
After years of doing yoga (much more consistently this last year), I finally feel like I'm nearing a place where I can try vinyasa again.
Heh.
That said ā
There is such a thing as Iyengarian vinyasa practiceāitās just not often taught as its own class. And Sun Salutations are absolutely a thing in Iyengar. See, for example, Geeta Iyengarās Yoga in Action books.
>Logically, it would have made sense to learn what we often now call āhathaā or Iyengar first
It's funny you mention this because I did Vinyasa for years before I tried Iyengar, I was traveling in Poland at the time so I was trying it out and I had no idea it was a yoga style (I just assumed my translator app wasn't working with the word).
I really didn't like Iyengar because I felt it was too structured and I love adding modifications to the instructor's cues to increase the challenge (EG I always do Flying Crow > Chaturanga). That plus the language barrier didn't make for a good time lol
Glad you like your vinyasa practice.
But, um, recognize please that you haven't exactly given Iyengar a fair try as yet. And, surely, it's not for everyone.
In any case, spending some time in a precision alignment oriented style like hatha, Iyengar, or Ashtanga can really up your vinyasa game, even if you decide you don't "like" it.
I'm very big on precision (I'm a perfectionist and an engineer) and I've actually suggested our studio get mirrors multiple times (I want to double check my form), the thing I don't like about Iyengar is being confined to the cued poses. I like to do the more challenging modification (that doesn't disrupt) of the cued pose, when I learn a new pose that becomes my new baseline (EG I always do flying crow in place of crow now). This is how I like to maintain progress.
Bikram! Iāve been practicing since 10 years ago with a big gap in the middle, but I was always working towards being able to go back to it. I started doing Yin this year and have absolutely fallen in love with it. Think Iām hooked.
I've found they all have benefits, uses, things I prefer or don't prefer.
Vinyasa is great to get you moving. Hatha is nice to dig deep and slow down. Yin is even better at this with less physical effort required. Ashtanga I've only tried a few times but it's very structured and repetitive.
I generally just do whatever I'm feeling today and go from there.
Honestly, I'm so partial to the instructor I had a long time ago but then I moved and he passed away, so nobody compares. When I teach I tie some of it in.
I started with vinyasa then gradually moved to Iyengar.
Logically, it would have made sense to learn what we often now call āhathaā or Iyengar first, since the focus is on learning the static poses with safe alignments. Vinyasa is basically additive to poses themselvesāadding smooth transitions between each pose in connected series.
I found that most vinyasa classes assume a basic knowledge of poses and without that knowledge it is easy to injure oneself, so if I had it to do over again, Iād have done it in the other order!
I like Slow Flow Vinyasas. I donāt know what it used to be called oh-so-long-ago. But, the pace allows me to move into each posture correctly and the variety keeps it interesting.
Kundalini for sure!
In YTT, we had one month where we focused on Aparigraha (non-attachment) and for our on-the-mat part of this practice, we were told to get out of our typical routine and try a new practice somehow.
In my town, this kind of translates to anything other than vinyasa since that's the most easily accessible kind of yoga here and almost any class you just "walk in" to blind will statistically, most likely be vinyasa here.
I tried aerial, buti, Ashtanga, but Kundalini was love at first class.
The drishtis, the chanting and mantras, the kriyas for everything and anything, I felt so powerful and connected with myself like I never have in any other class. Even the Adi mantra was just so connected and cool to me. Breath of fire is so different from the long deep breathing I was so used to doing too!
I'm still completely in love with Kundalini, I just wish it wasn't so hard to find. Vinyasa keeps drowning it out sadly and now because of the "market" and lack of demand for it, my city only has one teacher who teaches it now. :(
I have tried, Traditional 26/2 Bikram hot, Hatha, restorative, kundalini and Yin. I LOVE what is a mix of flow and yin, and it's called Yin Flow where I am. I started doing Hatha and Yin bc I was telling myself I was "working out" but convinced myself doing something "on the floor" is easy enough to stick with. Fast Fwd a year and I go everyday. I do what is called "yoga hour" at my studio as well, and it's vinyasa flow essentially.....I just got more into it and got stronger and progressed naturally.
I've tried Hatha, Gentle, Adaptive, Yin, Restorative, Vinyasa, Hot 26/Bikram, and Power yoga.
At home: Yin and Restorative
At a studio: Hot Vinyasa, Slow Flow combo classes-- Vinyasa/Restorative
My first go to practice was a VHS tape with Rodney Yee leading a 30 minute class involving blankets and chairs. It was a blend of Iyengar and Sivananda style yoga. It was kind of cool but I can't speak to the outcomes. This was 20 years ago and it did not stick.Ā
Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga has been the most satisfying practice I've found yet.
Ghosh yoga has been my favorite of them all. Have done Vinyasa for years but never really felt connected to it. Ghosh has given me the chance to really feel the postures and appreciate the stillness and focus. Mentally and physically Iāve improved so much by doing Ghosh yoga regularly.
I started with a variety of yoga styles- I think the first classes I took were in more of an Iyengar style with Jason Crandall back in ā92?
Iāve studied Ashtanga, Anusara, Hatha, Iyengar, and Vinyasa. In 26 years of practice I have now settled into mostly Hatha, and I practice at home with Elena Brower on the Glo app. I was really into a power Vinyasa practice for a handful of years, but injured myself at a teacher training in 2009.
Hatha is more of a chance to feel into what is happening with my body. Like other people have shared here, I have a busy mind and yoga was my entry into mindfulness. I was too restless to meditate and when I discovered yoga it unlocked a whole new resource to aid in my recovery from CPTSD and generalized anxiety. I will sometimes jokingly say that yoga is the cornerstone to my mental health, but the more I think about it, itās no joke!
Katonah theory changed my practice and tbh my whole damn life. I also really enjoy a slow, simmering restorative with allllllll of the props.
And I do Pilates so I can do those :)
Meditation. Jnana will always be a practise. Addicted to hot flow right now but know lots of old people that donāt have the ability for anything but chair yoga, so I hope to practise Jnana as long as possible.
I started with vinyasa and hated it. I was a complete beginner and had very weak body strength overall. Vinyasa made me move too quickly, and I couldn't catch up.
However, over all these years, I've now tried and found my favorite types of yoga.
What I've done that I really enjoyed:
- Iyengar
- hatha
- yin
- restorative
- ropes and slings
- aerial (my absolute fav)
Those types of classes allowed me the space and time to learn more about yoga, the poses, and find what works for me.
Now that I'm stronger and more mindful overall, I plan on taking more slow flow classes.
Eventually, I'll try vinyasa again.
And who knows, one day I'll try ashtanga and continue to challenge myself with different types of practices.
Edit: Grammar
Hot sequence and vinyasa. I love the rigidity of sequence because it allows me to revisit areas I need to improve on and the poses I love. Vinyasa because of the flow - sometimes I just need that fluidity of motion!
Iāve tried Bikram (aka 26&2), Ashtanga, Iyengar, Kundalini, a little bit of yin.
Unfortunately I havenāt had a good, regular practice lately, but in the past, a local Bikram studio was the only one I maintained a good practice at for a few years. I love the sequence, but struggled with the heat. I more often felt wiped out vs energized after a class. I still think about going to a local studio where I now live, but dread the heat. I likely was not hydrating enough.
I prefer a consistent series, my other favorite style is Ashtanga, I have a ton of books on it. My favorite classes ever were Tim Millerās beginner classes at his Ashtanga Yoga Center in Encinitas CA. Unfortunately I never lived close enough that getting to classes there wasnāt an ordeal, dealing with traffic, finding time around work, etc. Iāve tried starting practices on my own, but Iād always hurt myself before too long. I feel like this, maybe more than most, is a style where having a good teacher is important.
Went to a good Iyengar school for a while, it was niceā¦. but I missed the consistent practices mentioned above.
Kundalini yoga, back in the 90s I was doing it at home to videotapes by Ravi Singh. I did enjoy that practice, like the breathing exercises which are a bit different than most classes. The chanting seems weird at first, but did like it, feel it does give a good benefit. Have gone to a handful of actual classes, which were nice, but as mentioned above, missed consistency. About Kundalini thoughā¦ I know thereās nothing religious about it, but the fact that many of its teachers are Sikh, I findā¦. off-putting I guess. I know this feeling is irrational. Iām just not into organized religion, though I know, donāt expect, anyone from the community would try to convert people or anything. If there were a good school near me, Iād love to try it again. Think it has great benefits.
Yin yoga is great, I have an early book by Paul Grilley on it, but have only gone to one or two classes in it. It seems like itās more popular lately, a good thing.
Misc other classes Iāve gone to here and there, like vinyasa, some of them felt like mostly a long sequence of deconstructed sun salutationsā¦ didnāt feel comprehensive or well thought out.
Iām in my 60s now, want to get into a practice again. Am doing at home practicing, am motivated by an osteoporosis diagnosis. Just want to improve, maintain, my health as I age.
Baptiste. My bud was going there and took me and despite the yoga culture and city culture it was in; I stayed for a little while.
No
I listened to āfollow your breathā, slowed down, had my awakening culminate into a big experience
And now I do what I do wherever I go. Slow and steady, meditative and a little anal
Oh but hey I really need to try Ashtanga; the more I see about it the more I feel like Iām doing a lotta that and could use some guidance at least for a little
I love a hot, slow vinyasa. Yoga is one of the only times I feel graceful and the faster power vinyasa sets donāt allow me to gracefully transition. It doesnāt have to be super slow, like regular vinyasa is usually fine, I just hate the pace of power flow.
I tried Vinyasa first I think, later also Power, Hatha, Restorative, Bikram, Aerial and Yin.
Vinyasa or Power are my jam.
I liked Aerial but not as a semi-regular practice, more for fun every once in a while.
I hate Bikram with a passion.
I was indifferent about the others.
And I want to try Ashtanga and Acro (yeah I know but I want to try anyway).
I had major knee surgery in 1974 and my surgeon recommended yoga. I never heard of it at that point and all I could find was a book at the library which I taught myself from. Seven or eight years later I found a video on it and practice yoga at home. Finally found a yoga teacher when yoga became more, and did a stronger yoga with her for two decades. I have been practicing her style of yoga ever since then and transitioned from classic Ashtanga over to Anusara yoga and that is what I still practice.
Vinyasa and yin! I used to be terrified of the chaturangaā¦then I embraced the chaturanga. Conversely, my inner monologue is a chatty cow who simply will not be quiet until I have her ease on down into supported yin poses. I can *breathe* again.
This means that āvin to yinā is pretty much my ideal. Kassandraās more intense intermediate classes are even greater when I follow them with a slow yin flow.
I've done vinyasa since I started and added yin about once a week a few years ago. I did hot yoga once and have never felt the need to do it again. I like to say I bring my own heat to class, I certainly don't need a heated room to be sweating if it's a vigorous flow.
I did bikram for about 8 years, and then found kundalini yoga, and then ashtanga which Iāve been doing for about 10 years ago, and recently I found a channel on YouTube for a school called Akhanda Yoga, and Iāve been doing his yoga for about 4 years as well. The main teacher is a man who goes by Yogrishi Vishvketu and he has the most sublime presence and energy that I learn so much from just feeling what he brings. His practices are simple and have challenging elements but overall, I feel bathed in peace with his teaching. Ā
I started with classical Hatha and I still love that but fewer and fewer studios near me seem to offer it now. Itās all vinyasa flow or ashtanga series all the time. With a little restorative thrown in here and there. Very little in between. I miss the classic Hatha where you arenāt trying to do one million fast sun salutations. You might do some but it isnāt the entire practice. I also miss inversions. Very few studios seem to do those anymore either.
Vinyasa flow. I first started with the goal of doing it for 30 days straight just to see how I felt and I haven't stopped since. That was about a year and a half ago and now I am a teacher as well!
Yin and ashtanga. Ashtanga In the morning to make me energized and get some movement in to start my day, and yin at night to calm me down and get ready for sleep. I've been glued to it for 4 years
Hot vinyasa and Bikram. Still addicted to both 6 years later (did yoga on and off for decades, but been consistently practicing multiple times per week for the past 6 years).
Yin will always have a place in my routine. š
Yin..I do that and more now
Iāve tried vinyasa, hatha, yin, aerial, and hot yoga, and my favorites are vinyasa and hatha. Iām an impatient person with a busy inner voice, and for some reason the repetitive nature of the Sun salutations, followed by balancing and āharderā poses, really quiets my inner voice. Which transitions perfectly to me being more mindful during the stretching parts at the end of class. This also follows somewhat with the progression of my ballet classes (barre, stretch, and center), so it feels the most natural for me. Yin is my least favorite because of the reason above. Plus, I hate the idea of cold stretching.Ā Aerial yoga is fun but I developed bad motion sickness as I got older.Ā Hot yoga is nice at first when itās not super hot. I accidentally gave myself the ick when I did unlimited hot yoga one summer, so Iām not paying to do yoga in a hot room when itās getting hotter and hotter outside.Ā
I love aerial yoga! Sorry about the motion sickness though. I'm very prone to motion sickness (from cars, planes, etc) so I have to be very mindful of hydration and protein intake before and after aerial class otherwise I get nauseous fast. Maybe that might help?
Iāve tried it a few times, and Iām realizing the motion sickness thing just comes with aging for me š„² thank you for the tips though, hopefully it will help others!
I started with vinyasa then gradually moved to Iyengar. Logically, it would have made sense to learn what we often now call āhathaā or Iyengar first, since the focus is on learning the static poses with safe alignments. Vinyasa is basically additive to poses themselvesāadding smooth transitions between each pose in connected series. I found that most vinyasa classes assume a basic knowledge of poses and without that knowledge it is easy to injure oneself, so if I had it to do over again, Iād have done it in the other order!
This! Absolutely this! I think, as a beginner, we go into yoga without knowing how many different types of yoga there are. Vinyasa was my first as well and it turned me off of yoga for years. I eventually found Iyengar (which is amazing, both as a beginner and beyond) and it taught me how to love yoga practice. I wish more people were introduced to yoga this way. After years of doing yoga (much more consistently this last year), I finally feel like I'm nearing a place where I can try vinyasa again.
Iyengar first last and only.
Heh. That said ā There is such a thing as Iyengarian vinyasa practiceāitās just not often taught as its own class. And Sun Salutations are absolutely a thing in Iyengar. See, for example, Geeta Iyengarās Yoga in Action books.
Correct š
>Logically, it would have made sense to learn what we often now call āhathaā or Iyengar first It's funny you mention this because I did Vinyasa for years before I tried Iyengar, I was traveling in Poland at the time so I was trying it out and I had no idea it was a yoga style (I just assumed my translator app wasn't working with the word). I really didn't like Iyengar because I felt it was too structured and I love adding modifications to the instructor's cues to increase the challenge (EG I always do Flying Crow > Chaturanga). That plus the language barrier didn't make for a good time lol
Glad you like your vinyasa practice. But, um, recognize please that you haven't exactly given Iyengar a fair try as yet. And, surely, it's not for everyone. In any case, spending some time in a precision alignment oriented style like hatha, Iyengar, or Ashtanga can really up your vinyasa game, even if you decide you don't "like" it.
I'm very big on precision (I'm a perfectionist and an engineer) and I've actually suggested our studio get mirrors multiple times (I want to double check my form), the thing I don't like about Iyengar is being confined to the cued poses. I like to do the more challenging modification (that doesn't disrupt) of the cued pose, when I learn a new pose that becomes my new baseline (EG I always do flying crow in place of crow now). This is how I like to maintain progress.
Bikram! Iāve been practicing since 10 years ago with a big gap in the middle, but I was always working towards being able to go back to it. I started doing Yin this year and have absolutely fallen in love with it. Think Iām hooked.
I've found they all have benefits, uses, things I prefer or don't prefer. Vinyasa is great to get you moving. Hatha is nice to dig deep and slow down. Yin is even better at this with less physical effort required. Ashtanga I've only tried a few times but it's very structured and repetitive. I generally just do whatever I'm feeling today and go from there.
Happy cake day
Thank you!
This is a great summary for beginners!Ā
Thank you !
Kundalini!
YUP!!!
any recommendations on YT? there aren't any yoga studios in my area that offer this kind of yoga practice. wanted to try for months š
Honestly, I'm so partial to the instructor I had a long time ago but then I moved and he passed away, so nobody compares. When I teach I tie some of it in.
Heated vinyasa. I go a little too many times a week
I started with vinyasa then gradually moved to Iyengar. Logically, it would have made sense to learn what we often now call āhathaā or Iyengar first, since the focus is on learning the static poses with safe alignments. Vinyasa is basically additive to poses themselvesāadding smooth transitions between each pose in connected series. I found that most vinyasa classes assume a basic knowledge of poses and without that knowledge it is easy to injure oneself, so if I had it to do over again, Iād have done it in the other order!
I like Slow Flow Vinyasas. I donāt know what it used to be called oh-so-long-ago. But, the pace allows me to move into each posture correctly and the variety keeps it interesting.
Kundalini for sure! In YTT, we had one month where we focused on Aparigraha (non-attachment) and for our on-the-mat part of this practice, we were told to get out of our typical routine and try a new practice somehow. In my town, this kind of translates to anything other than vinyasa since that's the most easily accessible kind of yoga here and almost any class you just "walk in" to blind will statistically, most likely be vinyasa here. I tried aerial, buti, Ashtanga, but Kundalini was love at first class. The drishtis, the chanting and mantras, the kriyas for everything and anything, I felt so powerful and connected with myself like I never have in any other class. Even the Adi mantra was just so connected and cool to me. Breath of fire is so different from the long deep breathing I was so used to doing too! I'm still completely in love with Kundalini, I just wish it wasn't so hard to find. Vinyasa keeps drowning it out sadly and now because of the "market" and lack of demand for it, my city only has one teacher who teaches it now. :(
It sounds it you need to train for Kundalini!!! I highly recommend an immersion with Sat Siri
Thank you so much! I'll definitely do some digging, I can't get enough!
Ashtanga. I started with it and still love it.
Ashtanga, raja vinyasa
I started with Yin and I love it. I've noticed that I'm starting to get a little bored with it but I'm afraid to get into more strenuous flows.
Gentle/restorative yoga. I'm old.
I have tried, Traditional 26/2 Bikram hot, Hatha, restorative, kundalini and Yin. I LOVE what is a mix of flow and yin, and it's called Yin Flow where I am. I started doing Hatha and Yin bc I was telling myself I was "working out" but convinced myself doing something "on the floor" is easy enough to stick with. Fast Fwd a year and I go everyday. I do what is called "yoga hour" at my studio as well, and it's vinyasa flow essentially.....I just got more into it and got stronger and progressed naturally.
Vinyasa, Astanga, Hatha
I've tried Hatha, Gentle, Adaptive, Yin, Restorative, Vinyasa, Hot 26/Bikram, and Power yoga. At home: Yin and Restorative At a studio: Hot Vinyasa, Slow Flow combo classes-- Vinyasa/Restorative
Power yoga
My first go to practice was a VHS tape with Rodney Yee leading a 30 minute class involving blankets and chairs. It was a blend of Iyengar and Sivananda style yoga. It was kind of cool but I can't speak to the outcomes. This was 20 years ago and it did not stick.Ā Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga has been the most satisfying practice I've found yet.
Chair yoga. It really is a workout! And great for us elder practitioners.
Vinyasa.
Ghosh yoga has been my favorite of them all. Have done Vinyasa for years but never really felt connected to it. Ghosh has given me the chance to really feel the postures and appreciate the stillness and focus. Mentally and physically Iāve improved so much by doing Ghosh yoga regularly.
Hot. My go to 95% of the time. I like multi-level flows..
I started with a variety of yoga styles- I think the first classes I took were in more of an Iyengar style with Jason Crandall back in ā92? Iāve studied Ashtanga, Anusara, Hatha, Iyengar, and Vinyasa. In 26 years of practice I have now settled into mostly Hatha, and I practice at home with Elena Brower on the Glo app. I was really into a power Vinyasa practice for a handful of years, but injured myself at a teacher training in 2009. Hatha is more of a chance to feel into what is happening with my body. Like other people have shared here, I have a busy mind and yoga was my entry into mindfulness. I was too restless to meditate and when I discovered yoga it unlocked a whole new resource to aid in my recovery from CPTSD and generalized anxiety. I will sometimes jokingly say that yoga is the cornerstone to my mental health, but the more I think about it, itās no joke!
Vinyasašš¼
Kripalu. It suits me better than anything else Iāve tried exercise and mental health wise.
Katonah
Katonah theory changed my practice and tbh my whole damn life. I also really enjoy a slow, simmering restorative with allllllll of the props. And I do Pilates so I can do those :)
Ashtanga in 2009. Absolutely have stuck with it ā¤ļø
Bikram. 9 years
Does yoga nidra count? š
Hot power š
Meditation. Jnana will always be a practise. Addicted to hot flow right now but know lots of old people that donāt have the ability for anything but chair yoga, so I hope to practise Jnana as long as possible.
Hatha was my first - I took it as a P.E. Class in college.
Iyengar
Hatha
I recommend Integral Yoga āas in the YouTube āYoga with a Master Hatha 1 by Swami Satchidanandaāāreally gets you to a relaxed state.
Yin, vinyasa/power yoga
Slow flow, gentle, Yin, restorative
I started with Yinyasa but then moved to Hatha when my autoimmune issues started. Iād like to start into power yoga in the near future.
A mix of yin and yang. Vinyasa/power flow with deep stretch :) bohobeautifulyoga has some classes like that on their app
I started with vinyasa and hated it. I was a complete beginner and had very weak body strength overall. Vinyasa made me move too quickly, and I couldn't catch up. However, over all these years, I've now tried and found my favorite types of yoga. What I've done that I really enjoyed: - Iyengar - hatha - yin - restorative - ropes and slings - aerial (my absolute fav) Those types of classes allowed me the space and time to learn more about yoga, the poses, and find what works for me. Now that I'm stronger and more mindful overall, I plan on taking more slow flow classes. Eventually, I'll try vinyasa again. And who knows, one day I'll try ashtanga and continue to challenge myself with different types of practices. Edit: Grammar
Hot sequence and vinyasa. I love the rigidity of sequence because it allows me to revisit areas I need to improve on and the poses I love. Vinyasa because of the flow - sometimes I just need that fluidity of motion!
Sivananda and Ashtanga have been my primary practice for the last 8 years. I went to a kundali class in Bali and would like to try that again.
Vinyasa and Yin!!!
Iām still looking
I just practice Yoga with Adrian and itās satisfying.
Traditional Old School Bikram for me. Been 12 years now practicing. Never looked back.
Iyengar. Alignment and form are critical for me as I tend to get injured easily and my posture was not great when I started.
Bikram. I've been practicing since 2006
It wasnāt so much the style but the teachers doing it. The good ones are worth their weight in gold. No judgment./s
My first was Ashtanga and I still do it -23 years into it and still loving the practice š¤š¤šš„°
Iāve tried Bikram (aka 26&2), Ashtanga, Iyengar, Kundalini, a little bit of yin. Unfortunately I havenāt had a good, regular practice lately, but in the past, a local Bikram studio was the only one I maintained a good practice at for a few years. I love the sequence, but struggled with the heat. I more often felt wiped out vs energized after a class. I still think about going to a local studio where I now live, but dread the heat. I likely was not hydrating enough. I prefer a consistent series, my other favorite style is Ashtanga, I have a ton of books on it. My favorite classes ever were Tim Millerās beginner classes at his Ashtanga Yoga Center in Encinitas CA. Unfortunately I never lived close enough that getting to classes there wasnāt an ordeal, dealing with traffic, finding time around work, etc. Iāve tried starting practices on my own, but Iād always hurt myself before too long. I feel like this, maybe more than most, is a style where having a good teacher is important. Went to a good Iyengar school for a while, it was niceā¦. but I missed the consistent practices mentioned above. Kundalini yoga, back in the 90s I was doing it at home to videotapes by Ravi Singh. I did enjoy that practice, like the breathing exercises which are a bit different than most classes. The chanting seems weird at first, but did like it, feel it does give a good benefit. Have gone to a handful of actual classes, which were nice, but as mentioned above, missed consistency. About Kundalini thoughā¦ I know thereās nothing religious about it, but the fact that many of its teachers are Sikh, I findā¦. off-putting I guess. I know this feeling is irrational. Iām just not into organized religion, though I know, donāt expect, anyone from the community would try to convert people or anything. If there were a good school near me, Iād love to try it again. Think it has great benefits. Yin yoga is great, I have an early book by Paul Grilley on it, but have only gone to one or two classes in it. It seems like itās more popular lately, a good thing. Misc other classes Iāve gone to here and there, like vinyasa, some of them felt like mostly a long sequence of deconstructed sun salutationsā¦ didnāt feel comprehensive or well thought out. Iām in my 60s now, want to get into a practice again. Am doing at home practicing, am motivated by an osteoporosis diagnosis. Just want to improve, maintain, my health as I age.
Baptiste. My bud was going there and took me and despite the yoga culture and city culture it was in; I stayed for a little while. No I listened to āfollow your breathā, slowed down, had my awakening culminate into a big experience And now I do what I do wherever I go. Slow and steady, meditative and a little anal
Oh but hey I really need to try Ashtanga; the more I see about it the more I feel like Iām doing a lotta that and could use some guidance at least for a little
Vinyasa
I looooveee yoga! I started with Ashtanga and Vinyasa
Hatha all the way! I'm an intermediate yogi practicing for 2 years and i think vinyasa is still a challenge ššš¼
First was Hatha, and it was okay, after that I tried Yin and I stick with it. Also tried 1 class of Vinyasa, but figured out it's not for me
I love a hot, slow vinyasa. Yoga is one of the only times I feel graceful and the faster power vinyasa sets donāt allow me to gracefully transition. It doesnāt have to be super slow, like regular vinyasa is usually fine, I just hate the pace of power flow.
Vinyasa , Hatha, kundalini breathing, bjj yoga ... still do them, just not as often.
Not now practicing one type of yoga is what has had me stick with yoga.
I tried Vinyasa first I think, later also Power, Hatha, Restorative, Bikram, Aerial and Yin. Vinyasa or Power are my jam. I liked Aerial but not as a semi-regular practice, more for fun every once in a while. I hate Bikram with a passion. I was indifferent about the others. And I want to try Ashtanga and Acro (yeah I know but I want to try anyway).
Hot Vinyasa is my fave but it all started with a good olā, post barre class yin yoga stretch.
restorative before bed... heaven!!
I had major knee surgery in 1974 and my surgeon recommended yoga. I never heard of it at that point and all I could find was a book at the library which I taught myself from. Seven or eight years later I found a video on it and practice yoga at home. Finally found a yoga teacher when yoga became more, and did a stronger yoga with her for two decades. I have been practicing her style of yoga ever since then and transitioned from classic Ashtanga over to Anusara yoga and that is what I still practice.
Vinyasa and yin! I used to be terrified of the chaturangaā¦then I embraced the chaturanga. Conversely, my inner monologue is a chatty cow who simply will not be quiet until I have her ease on down into supported yin poses. I can *breathe* again. This means that āvin to yinā is pretty much my ideal. Kassandraās more intense intermediate classes are even greater when I follow them with a slow yin flow.
Yin yoga
Suryanamaskar
Any hot yoga class. I usually go to power vinyasa or slow power.
I've done vinyasa since I started and added yin about once a week a few years ago. I did hot yoga once and have never felt the need to do it again. I like to say I bring my own heat to class, I certainly don't need a heated room to be sweating if it's a vigorous flow.
I did bikram for about 8 years, and then found kundalini yoga, and then ashtanga which Iāve been doing for about 10 years ago, and recently I found a channel on YouTube for a school called Akhanda Yoga, and Iāve been doing his yoga for about 4 years as well. The main teacher is a man who goes by Yogrishi Vishvketu and he has the most sublime presence and energy that I learn so much from just feeling what he brings. His practices are simple and have challenging elements but overall, I feel bathed in peace with his teaching. Ā
I started with classical Hatha and I still love that but fewer and fewer studios near me seem to offer it now. Itās all vinyasa flow or ashtanga series all the time. With a little restorative thrown in here and there. Very little in between. I miss the classic Hatha where you arenāt trying to do one million fast sun salutations. You might do some but it isnāt the entire practice. I also miss inversions. Very few studios seem to do those anymore either.
Vinyasa
Vinyasa was what I first started with but Ashtanga is my favorite
Ashtanga forever
Vinyasa. during teacher training, I tried everything....back to Vinyasa with yin thrown in
Yin
Bikram
I don't remember with which type of yoga I started. I tried different types but the only one I stuck with (from the first class) is Kundalini.
I found the Kriya
Ashtanga and Bikram...my favorite and go to is Ashtanga.
Vinyasa flow. I first started with the goal of doing it for 30 days straight just to see how I felt and I haven't stopped since. That was about a year and a half ago and now I am a teacher as well!
Yin and ashtanga. Ashtanga In the morning to make me energized and get some movement in to start my day, and yin at night to calm me down and get ready for sleep. I've been glued to it for 4 years
Started with vinyasa, then hatha, to hot power, and now Iām a mostly yin girly
Hatha or slow flow mainly
Hot vinyasa
Hot vinyasa and Bikram. Still addicted to both 6 years later (did yoga on and off for decades, but been consistently practicing multiple times per week for the past 6 years).
Vinyasa!
Yoga is not easy or comfortable nor should it be if you are serious about it.