Do you want to start yoga but don’t know where to begin? Each “technique” has its own rhythm, purpose, and way of approaching the body and mind.
Hatha Yoga offers a grounded, accessible introduction to the world of yoga, emphasizing breath, body awareness, and gradual purification. Ashtanga Yoga is dynamic and demanding: flowing sequences that synchronize breath and movement, strengthening the body, increasing flexibility, and clearing the mind. Iyengar Yoga prioritizes precision and alignment, using props and modifications to suit every level, cultivating safety and accuracy. Finally, Anusara-based Yoga combines principles of alignment with an open-hearted attitude, fostering awareness and full-body activation.
In the following sections, we’ll explore what characterizes each style, who it’s best suited for, and how you can choose the one that aligns with your goals and needs.
HATHA YOGA
In the following sections, we’ll explore what characterizes each style, who it’s best suited for, and how you can choose the one that aligns with your goals and needs.
In general, a Hatha class includes physical practice with an emphasis on breathing, followed by final relaxation and meditation.
ASHTANGA YOGA
This is a vibrant, dynamic form of yoga that benefits those seeking strength, flexibility, mental clarity, and increased energy. It combines breath and movement through a wide range of postures that flow one after another in a continuous sequence.
It engages the energy locks and the gazing points (drishti) so that the mind can focus during practice. Practicing Ashtanga yoga generates intense internal heat, which increases flexibility and helps people with back problems. Beginners are advised to start in a beginner’s class or with another, gentler form of yoga.
IYENGAR YOGA
Iyengar yoga approaches each posture with precision and structure. During practice, the student remains in the poses for longer periods while using props such as foam blocks, straps, wooden bricks, blankets, and cushions to achieve and maintain correct alignment.
This type of yoga can be easily adapted to different levels of strength, experience, and flexibility. The class does not include long meditations or breathing exercises.
ANUSARA BASED YOGA
Anusara yoga was founded in 1997 in the United States by John Friend. It is a form of Hatha yoga that places particular emphasis on proper alignment and the activation of the whole body, and it is suitable for everyone. In Anusara yoga, we learn to work with detailed awareness of every movement and with an open heart—recognizing the goodness that exists in all people and all things.