The world of yoga can be utterly baffling to any newcomer. Learning to understand a different language, all the variety of different styles and how they relate to you.

Here’s my guide to the world of yoga to help you get started:

Styles of Yoga

Hatha Yoga: ‘Hatha’ means ‘effort’ and is widely used as a broad term meaning any physical yoga practice with postures, although ion most studios and gyms it is considered a slower more general type of class than say a vinyasa class.

Flow Yoga: Flow is the term we use in yoga when postures are linked together, rather than stopping after every asana; as is more common in a hatha style practice. In Flow, the transitions between poses becoming an integral part of the sequence.

Vinyasa Yoga: ‘Vinyasa’ means ‘to place with special attention’ and is widely used to describe faster flowing classes with a continuous flow of movement throughout.

Yoga Nidra: ‘Nidra’ means ‘sleep’, so yoga nidra is a guided relaxation practice that promotes feelings of deep restfulness and wellbeing. A teacher verbally guides a practitioner into slow brain wave states usually encountered in sleep.  It includes a ‘body scan’ where attention is directed around the body, and breath awareness. Listening to the soothing voice of the facilitator or teacher is an integral part of the practice.

When the purpose is to fall asleep, there is no guidance in coming back to a wakeful state and the practitioner drifts seamlessly into deep slumber. 

Restorative Yoga: is the use of props to create positions of comfort and ease to facilitate relaxation and wellbeing. Poses are mostly floor based and held for up to 15 minutes or more, for the body to ‘open’, rather than stretch. The nervous system is down regulated from an every day activated fight or flight state into a rest and digest state. There is no verbal guidance once the practitioner is settled in a position, so it’s a practice of quiet deep rest.

Somatic Movement: Is about the internal experience of how movement feels rather than the external result or appearance of the pose. It’s useful in tuning into how poses work for your body and helps you to make choices that are more suited to your body.

Mindful practices, meditation and pranayama

Mindfulness: is about being present in the moment and noticing without judgement, and includes awareness of your breath and being in touch with the 5 senses of sight, sound, touch, taste and smell.

Meditation: Is one of the eight limbs of a yoga practice. It is a practice of reflection and gathering attention in the present moment. In my classes I mainly offer guided meditation where there is a focus on finding a comfortable and still position, paying attention to the breath to calm and settle the mind, and is mainly practiced as a seated meditation. 

Pranayama: Is a breathing practice with a conscious or specific pattern of breathing, which has an effect on the energy and the state of both mind and body.

Journalling: Is a self reflection tool widely practiced in the yoga world. It is simply writing down your thoughts and feelings and can aid ‘mental digestion’ of unprocessed thought arising during the day.