It can be difficult to navigate the world of yoga, from observing perfect poise on Instagram to finding the routine and flow to suit your ability and needs. The good news is: we’re here to help! In our brand new Beginners series, we take you through every question, concern, and query new yogis have asked us over the years! Allow us to help you understand and choose the types of yoga that suit you most!

Stretch your brain first…

Here at Yoga With Laura B, we love getting to know you, so that we can prescribe the perfect cocktail of movement and guide you through every step to help you see your desired results. To achieve this, we pull on all areas of yoga with unrivaled expertise and experience.

Not ready to jump into a class yet? Don’t be intimidated by the yoga-sphere, instead feel right at home with our beginner-friendly guide on choosing which yoga path would interest and benefit you most.

Why is yoga right for every single body?

Yoga has a wealth of proven benefits and a reputation as a highly effective, but elite, practice. However, in today’s market, there’s a yoga solution to suit every budget, schedule, skill level, and personality. So, why not tap into the benefits of regular yoga and achieve the results you want?

Yogis see benefits such as:

• Improved strength, balance, and flexibility
• Enjoy a relaxing and restorative workout
• Increased energy levels and lifted moods
• Stress management
• Improved sleep quality
• Good mental health and a calm state of mind
• A toned physique and good posture
• Good health: from head to toe

What do I need to start?

Ideally, you would have a top-notch yoga mat, stretchy workout-wear, water, and WIFI. If you haven’t checked off every item on that list yet, don’t be discouraged. Simply find alternatives and get stretchy! Be creative in a yogi workout designed for you!

Asana yoga VS dynamic yoga

A quick note on these terms: asanas are yoga poses or postures and dynamic yoga adds the smooth transition between asanas. These terms can be a bit daunting. But, all you need to know is that each type (discussed below) can be categorised as an asana practice or a dynamic one.

So, which yoga path will you take?

Vinyasa yoga

(Sometimes called slow flow or dynamic yoga)

Vinyasa translates literally as “to place in a [deliberately] special way”, and is compared to the notes in a raga or steps to a mountain’s peak. The particularly smooth movement from one posture to the next distinguishes this type. It places a focus on using regulated breathing to accomplish these seamless transitions.

Vinyasa yoga is most suitable for yogis looking to build muscle strength, improve balance, and stability. It’s great for fitness and has a wicked effect on posture and metabolism, all whilst creating a peaceful headspace. Vinyasa yoga is a great practice for those battling, or fighting to prevent, osteoporosis and heart disease.

Power yoga

(Sometimes called flow yoga)

A hyperactive child of vinyasa flow yoga, power yoga has a faster rhythm and is a more intense workout. It challenges yogis to combine a dynamic flow of movement with longer-hold poses, and has a reputation as an invigorating and sweat-worthy workout.

It’s a great option if you’re keen to get moving and want to shed fat whilst building core strength. If you’re seeking solace within your own strength, power yoga is a great way to express yourself.

Hatha yoga

Hatha yoga principles are reflected in the word’s etymology; it translates to “stubborn” and is defined by the reluctance to be interrupted by the five physical senses. Popularly championed in the US, hatha yoga uses the breath, body, and mind in harmony with one another. The aim is to create asanas (or poses) that encourage a meditative yet active practice.

Hatha yoga is a great choice if you want to improve muscle strength, feel that sumptuous stretch, and tone those hard-to-target areas. If your range of motion and core strength are areas that you struggle with, as the result of inactivity, age, or injury, hatha yoga is a great place to begin!

Ashtanga yoga

The word Ashtanga means “eight-limbed”, and in terms of yoga, is described as “the eight-limbed pathway to achieving the state of yoga”. More modernly, it is based around eight principles. They pair the flow from pose to pose, with deep and controlled breathwork, typically holding each asana for 5 breath counts.

It’s a holistic practice that challenges its followers to look inwards and consider their attitudes towards the environment, themselves, and their productivity. This combination of meditation and movement makes Ashtanga yoga a classic. You don’t want to miss out on Ashtanga for the ultimate natural high.

Yin yoga

Yin yoga is what springs to mind when we imagine hours of silent meditation in a rainforest temple. Characterised by asanas (poses) held for longer periods of time and slow-paced transitioning, compared to its more active yoga siblings.

Yin yoga is great for stretching connective tissue and the body’s fascia, such as collagen. Try yin to lift your energy levels when you’re tired, or reduce them when you feel overwhelmed. Yin yoga uses tension and compression in meridian lines to reduce bodily tension. Meridian lines are, in this sense, pairings of organs (for example, the spleen and the stomach, or the kidney and the bladder) that connect with one another. These connections have little-to-no evidence-based studies to fully explain them, but they’ve appeared prominently throughout history. This means that to target one organ, yin asks you to use another in a specific way, for a referred effect. For this reason, yin yoga is the one to try if you’re goal is overall organ health and physical and emotional balance.

If you’re seeking a relaxing and spiritual workout that improves circulation and flexibility, try yin yoga today!

Restorative yoga

All derivations of the word restorative depict a holistic attitude aimed at healing, rebuilding, and repairing. You’ll notice the word’s origins are reflected in this relaxing practice. You can differentiate by the use of soft furnishings to enhance comfort. You can use throw blankets and cushions, rolled and folded to support your body whilst holding a pose. This brings us to the second distinguishable feature of restorative yoga. Postures are held for longer periods of time, which is generally five minutes or more.

Often described as deeply relaxing, restorative yoga is famous for its abilities to boost the immune system, balance the hormonal and nervous systems. In addition, it has a unique approach that works wonders for mobility and flexibility. This is due to the release of tension that typically accompanies this type of yoga.

Scaravelli yoga

The name “Scaravelli” comes from Vanda Scaravelli, an early contributor to yoga practices. Thought of as a yoga path for finding freedom, this approach is not about achieving or maintaining a pose. Instead, it encourages its followers to resist the urge to force the body into a position that feels unnatural. It traditionally uses calm and controlled breathwork with asanas to target the whole body, and in particular, the spine.

Vanda Scaravelli herself said, “yoga is an effortless dance with breath and gravity” in her book Awakening The Spine. This book has become an important text in yoga’s history and remains hugely influential. Scaravelli’s attention to gravity and breathing has been pioneered in the yoga community for decades; the sensation of being drawn to the Earth proving to be a source of fresh inspiration for many yogis around the world.

It focuses on using relaxation and gravity to drop the bones and carry tension out of the surrounding muscle and connective tissue, which is then combined with the extension of the spine upwards. Scaravelli yoga is the practice for you if you are craving a sense of lightness, flexibility, and spirituality. It’s known for its freeing effects on the physical body and on the mind, as well as its infamous ability to correct spine misalignment.

Feeling excited about your yoga-potential?

We hope you are feeling as inspired as we are by these awesome and versatile practices! If you want to begin your yoga expertise journey today, book a class with Laura! Challenge yourself to see tailor-made results with a workout you’ll look forward to. Become dedicated to bettering your body and mind with a skill that you will never forget or regret!

In conclusion: which yoga types are best for you?

We know: that was a lot of information! However, we hope you found something to get excited about and make you feel at home with Yoga With Laura B! We would love to see you in the comments below, on our socials, and in our classes!

Still not sure which types of yoga would suit your needs best?

Drop us a message and allow us to make a personal recommendation!

A final note…

To close this pioneering first edition of our Beginners series, we want to remind you that yoga is all about finding your focus and empowerment, not how you look in the mirror or through a camera lens! Everybody deserves to feel strong and in control whilst nailing that difficult asana and breathing through that shaky transition. So, no matter your gender, size, build, and current skill level, we believe in and champion you!