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I must admit I have been thinking of taking up Yoga myself, for health in mind and body. (I am rather inflexible as I have a sedentary job.)
I hear people say they 'do yoga' all the time, but even though the holistic centre I work in is mainly yoga based, I have no clue which 'yoga' to start with.
So am I right in thinking there is no such thing as just 'yoga'? Do you have to know which one is the right one or can you just turn up and tone up?
Hugs n stuff
Steve
Hi Steve
When people talking about 'doing' yoga, they are generally referring to hatha yoga, which is based around stretches and poses (asanas) and to a various degree, pranayama, which means controlled breathing (to simplify.) Within that there are various 'styles' or 'branches' of hatha yoga which range from the slow and gentle (Sivananda, British Wheel of Yoga) to the flowing and energetic (Ashtanga, Iyengar). If you contact the class tutor, they should tell you which style they teach and you can decide whether you want something strenuous or more relaxing. Whichever you choose, I bet you'll enjoy it and it will benefit you enormously. Let us know how you get on.
xxx
Steve, I didn't know much about yoga when I attended my first class 12 years ago. I just did the one that they taught amy local lesiure centre, which all happened to be the nearest (and cheapest) place. It was Sivananda yoga and I not only still practice it today, but I also teach it. It is a good place to start. It can be slow and gentle in the early days of your pracitise while your strength and flexiblity develop, but with much more advanced annd stronger asanas as your practise deepens.
If there is more than one style available to your, I'd say go to at least 2 classes beofre you decide 'that style' is not for you.
YOu might find that which ever one you try first siuts you (for now).
Good luck and let us know how you get on.
Purplewolf
I agree with the above, choose one that you think will suit you and then give it a few lessons before you decide. I recently started doing Vinyasa yoga, which is much more intense that the hatha yoga I used to practice, but I am enjoying it and it's doing my body the world of good!
Most Hatha yoga styles are suitable for beginners.
As to if 'just yoga' exists, I would say that ALL yoga is 'just' yoga... if you get proficient at a few different styles, there is nothing to stop you mixing and matchign them in your own practice depending on how you feel. I will quite often start with some gentle Hatha yoga postures and sequences, then move into some faster paced 'ashtanga' sequences, then finish with some very slow, flowing 'dru' yoga before relaxing.