What Kind of Yoga Should I Start With? A Beginner’s Guide

Little do most people know that there are several different types of yoga, each with their benefits. When you start looking for the ideal class so that you can delve into the world of yoga, you’ll want to know the ins and outs as well as the benefits of the different versions.

By using this guide, you can easily select the ideal type of yoga for beginners, depending on the type of workout or mental exercise you’re searching for.

Most Popular Kinds of Yoga for Beginners

Apart from getting your yoga gear ready, you’ll also need to find the right class to help you take advantage of all of the benefits of yoga. Here are three of the most recommended classes that you can take as a beginner:

Hatha Yoga

You’ll find that Hatha is by far one of the most popular types of yoga, and nearly every studio will have these classes on their roster. The most notable advantage of this type of yoga is that it allows you to understand the poses you might encounter in other classes because it focuses on stretching while maintaining healthy breathing.

If there’s one thing that is guaranteed with Hatha, it’s that you will leave the class feeling more centered, peaceful, and looser than ever before. What you’ll come to love about Hatha is that it is available in several variations that make it ideal for beginners and advanced yogis alike.

As a starter, you’ll learn more about what yoga is as well as your physical limits. On the other hand, as an advanced practitioner, you will be able to push your body further for the most optimal stretch.

Kundalini Yoga

If you’ve never experienced Kundalini yoga, it’s not too late. This is the type of yoga that is very different from what you would expect, which is what makes it so exciting.

Apart from focusing on stretching and mental peace, Kundalini also focuses on the spiritual aspect and intense meditation. The central premise behind this type of yoga is to awaken the energy within your body, commonly referred to as a snake, to take advantage of your internal life force.

You can expect there to be a lot of chanting and meditation during these classes, which are sure to bring a noticeable change to your energy and inner feelings. With that said, you may want to consider looking at the experience level of a Kundalini class in your area before signing up, as some are better suited for experienced yoga practitioners.

Iyengar Yoga

Anyone can agree that stretching and having proper form are the two most important aspects of yoga, which is what Iyengar focuses on. It can be incredibly beneficial to have access to knowledge that assists you with achieving the perfect pose with perfect form to help avoid injury and to improve your overall flexibility.

Similar to the other types of beginner classes, Iyengar classes are bound to be quite popular among novice yogis in your area. During your class, you will be able to use an assortment of props that assist you with maintaining the correct posturing, similar to restorative yoga.

Instead of focusing on your breathing as much as Hatha, this version focuses on stillness and holding poses. You can guarantee that your sessions will also have more instructor-based feedback than with other types of yoga.

Yinyasa Yoga

If you’re the type of beginner who wants a powerful workout that will provide a deep stretch to help you to unwind your mind, Yinyasa is a fantastic choice. It is a combination of Yin and Vinyasa yoga that is quite beginner-friendly and gives you the best of both worlds. It features both flow and restorative practices.

At the beginning of your class, you can expect to go through an active flow where your body will frequently be moving and sweating a lot. Towards the end, you’ll appreciate the grounded part of the class that helps you to ease any mental tensions and honestly sit into your stretches for the most rejuvenating experience possible.

This type of yoga is by far one of our favorites, especially as it helps your mental and physical well-being simultaneously.

Vinyasa Yoga

The final type of yoga that many yoga resources highly recommend for novice practitioners is Vinyasa, which is also quite popular among urban yoga studios. During these classes, you will go through an assortment of postures that focus primarily on movement and linking each pose together as fluidly as possible.

In Vinyasa, your primary objective is to move with your breath, which can make it physically challenging but not too overwhelming for beginners. It’s a highly active type of class that you’ll appreciate signing up for, and you’ll also feel sufficiently worked out at the end.

Final Thoughts

With all of the different types of yoga, it can be challenging to know what class is best, especially as a first-time participant. We guarantee that out of these user-friendly classes, you’re bound to find the ideal one for your needs.