Yoga Practices

When you’re ready to engage in a yoga practice, the style of yoga you choose is very important. Start with focusing on what meets your needs physically, mentally and spiritually. From the beginning it was important for me to develop a practice that was safe, practical and consistent. Whenever I strayed from that I would stop. I found that yin and restorative yoga met all of my needs and became consistent in my practice with these two styles.

If you’re not sure where to begin, start by understanding the types of yoga practices you could engage in. I’ve created a short list of 5 to help you get started.

Iyengar focuses heavily on alignment and precision, which is achieved through the use of props. Props can be chairs, blocks and straps.

Vinyasa focuses on the flow of movement, aligning it with the breath. Vinyasa can help with focus and stress reduction.

Restorative yoga focuses on relaxing poses that are held for longer periods of time, many times with the use of props. Can be used to promote deep relaxation.

Yin yoga focuses on deep connective tissue as poses are held for longer periods of time. Great for improving flexibility and promoting relaxation.

Bikram focuses on detoxification. This type of practice is done in a hot room and is great for mental resilience.

Again, only you can choose what works best for you. Yoga instructors can discuss the options available and support you in your practice, but you must determine what feels right for your mind, body and spirit. As we all continue to grow and evolve, it is important to remember this yoga journey is exactly that, a journey. There are no quick fixes, no instant successes. Just the opportunity to reflect, practice and grow.

image shot at Ara Ha