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Are you a beginner and have wondered what kind of yoga is best suited for you – and why? Then continue reading to find your answer…
But first, let’s talk about the word „beginner“. Because it can be it bit deceiving – are you a beginner as in you’ve never tried yoga but have done a lot of bodywork, such as dancing or acrobatics, or are you an absolute beginner when it comes to a movement practice in total? Because I would argue that those two types – and everyone else on that spectrum – have completely different needs. So let’s talk about the most common types of yoga and for whom, in my humble opinion, they are best suited for to start with.
Hatha Yoga – a more slow and steady practice, I would say the spectrum of what a Hatha class can look like is pretty big. Arguably a great practice for people that don’t have a background in movement.
Vinyasa Yoga – flowing movement, can require a fair amount of flexibility, usually popular amongst dancers, could be a bit overwhelming if you don’t have a movement background. Might be preferred if you don’t have so much strength but more flexibility.
Ashtanga Yoga – practice of usually one series, most common style to practice is at your own pace in a group (Mysore style), can require a fair amount of strength, might be preferred if you don’t have so much flexibility but more strength.
Kundalini Yoga – probably a more spiritual practice, can be very physically demanding or really chilled. Quite demanding on a mental level, I would say. Ideal for people that are interested in spirituality and open to any physical level.
Yin Yoga – a very slow yoga style that focuses more on the mental aspect rather than the physical. Poses are being held with a lot of props for a longer period of time – might be more comfortable if you already have some yoga experience, because it can be mentally and physically quite challenging otherwise.
Acro Yoga – acrobatic yoga poses, usually done in pairs. Ideal if you like interaction (both verbal and physical) with other people and prefer a more „lose“ class set up, more workshop-style.
So this is my summary of the most common yoga styles and who they are best suited for. I have practiced all of these styles, but do know Acro Yoga the least I would say. Hot Yoga could be interesting for you too, but I’ve never practiced it myself.