I’m too busy. It’s too slow. I just don’t. If you or anyone you know is making excuses to evade the mat, it’s time to take a look at yoga – and its many mind and body benefits – in a different light. Best friends and bloggers, Cat and Lauren of The Resource Girls, know that building a yoga practice can help us feel empowered, inspired and at ease, but it’s not a one size fits all deal.
Whether you’re just dabbling or getting back on track, find a yoga style for your personality type and share this link with your hothead friend (she needs a sweaty vinyasa flow, stat.)
I was the biggest yoga hater. Years ago I swore up and down I’d never do it. I may not have said it, but in my head I was thinking, “Excuse me, but I enjoy working out with weights and actually exerting myself. I don’t need to pay someone to sit in a room and hum.” Boy was I wrong. It wasn’t until I was in nursing school and babysitting for a yoga instructor that she finally convinced me to go. I only agreed to go because the class incorporated weights and she said played hip hop music. How had I never heard of this kind of yoga? That was over five years ago and hundreds of hours of yoga later. I can say without hesitation that I’ll be a yogi for life – and it’s changed me in more ways than one.
Yoga realigns my body after doing other forms of exercise. It really does restore my whole being after all the pressure, aches and pains from sitting at a desk, holding on to stress and performing other types of exercise. Yoga stretches my body and makes me more flexible, which results in optimal performance in my other workouts. It has allowed me to practice better self care and it’s taught me the strength in being at peace with a quiet mind.
Yoga helped me through one of the most trying times of my life – getting divorced, moving, graduating nursing and starting over. Did you know recent studies show that an hour of exercise a day is more effective than an antidepressant?
You may just have to try it to believe it!
Yoga can be super intimidating to start. There are many styles of yoga practice. We’ve put together a brief guide to some of the more standard types and what may best fit your personality.
VINYASA YOGA || For those with a short attention span
The word vinyasa means a gradual progression or a step-by-step approach. This practice focuses on a breath matched to a movement to create a yoga flow. This style is perfect if you’re the type of person who needs to keep moving and stay busy. It’s easy to quickly get distracted and let your mind wander, especially in yoga. A good vinyasa flow will allow you to keep moving and keep your mind on your breath, ensuring you get the most out of your practice no matter the length of time.
Examples: Power Yoga, Ashtanga, Baptiste Yoga, and Prana Flow
HOT YOGA || For the Hothead
Hot yoga is any yoga that is in an intentionally heated room with the temperature set from 85 – 100 degrees Fahrenheit. These warm temperatures are said to release toxic energy and increase strength and flexibility. Bring a towel to cover your mat, you’ll sweat a lot. The act of physically sweating out toxins also correlates to letting go of anger or resentment we may be holding onto in our mind. There is nothing like sweating out the stresses of your day to help blow off some team physically and mentally.
Examples: CorePower Yoga, Bikram Yoga and Baptiste Yoga
RESTORATIVE YOGA || For the Overworked and Overcommitted
If you need to rest and just be, restorative yoga is for you. This type of practice allows for the use of props so as not to overexert yourself. The guide will usually only have yogis do a few poses, five to seven, per class held for approximately five minutes each. We’ve all been there – overcommitted at work, at home or life in general. We all need an hour to unwind and relax at times, this is when you need to get to a restorative yoga class ASAP!
POWER YOGA || For the Introverted
It’s usually those with the most timid personalities that are extroverted in other aspects of life. Nothing says boss lady like a little power yoga. Can’t stand up to your boss or coworkers? No problem, just let it all go in power yoga. This style is more fitness based and focuses on building internal heat with a vinyasa flow (see above). Power comes from matching your breath to a movement, building internal heat and increasing strength and flexibility.
This is just scratching the surface when it comes to the possibilities of different types of yoga. The bottom line is there is no excuse not to start! Don’t be afraid to ask whoever is working at the studio for recommendations. Yogis love sharing about their practice! Check schedules online ahead of time too. Most studios will have a description and state what level the class is, ranging from beginner to advanced.
Yoga is a practice. This is our favorite part! We all come from different places, have different days and weeks, but on our mat it’s just ourselves, the yoga and our breath. That, my friends, is a beautiful thing, no matter your personality.
Read the original article from Our Body Book here!
