To enhance wellness of body, mind and spirit, yoga is one of the simplest and most profound practices anyone can adopt for a more grounded presence, an open heart and a stronger, flexible body. There are many types of yoga classes and practitioners on the Coast. If you’re unsure which class is for you, here is a primer in the spirit of a yoga menu, describing different varieties of yoga from which to choose.
Hatha yoga is one of the best choices for beginners as it is a general, fundamental practice that can be adjusted to your fitness and comfort level. A hatha yoga class usually includes both asanas (yoga body postures) and pranayama (yoga breathing techniques) to ease your body and mind into a relaxed state.
Iyengar yoga is a specific form of hatha yoga developed by B. K. S. Iyengar focusing on posture alignment and precision, and often utilizing props and straps to help practitioners find ease and support in specific postures.
Flow or vinyasa yoga offers a smooth sequence of postures synchronized to the breath to build heat and stamina in practitioners. Ashtanga and power yoga are even more challenging forms of vinyasa.
Yin or restorative yoga is slow yoga, whereby postures (or asanas) are held for longer than average times, from 30 seconds to up to five minutes per pose, enhancing deep release and relaxation and targeting connective tissues in the body to increase flexibility and stamina.
Yoga nidra is a guided relaxation form of yoga developed to induce the deep, dream-like state between wakefulness and sleeping. The resulting state of meditative consciousness is believed to release tension and anxiety and offer a sense of calm and peace.
Hot yoga is typically a challenging flow- or hatha-styled class practised in a heated room. The hot temperature allows for a deepening of poses plus a release of toxins through sweating. If you’re a beginner you may wish to work up to trying hot yoga as it can be quite strenuous.
Kundalini yoga is a specific school of yoga emphasizing tantric energy and visualization. Meditation, pranayama (breathing), chanting and asanas (postures) are fundamental components of this practice.
Outdoor yoga is often offered on the Coast during the summer season as weather allows. Practising yoga by the sea, in the forest, or in a grassy field adds even more relaxing ambience to your practice.
If you’d like to try yoga, visit a local yoga studio, community fitness or seniors’ centre and ask to see their drop-in schedule. Dress comfortably and bring your own mat (or borrow one) and be sure to arrive 10 to 15 minutes early to set up, relax and ease into your class comfortably.
