Exploring the benefits posed by yoga

Is 2022 the year you have decided it’s finally time to take up yoga?

A quick Google will soon reveal there are many types of this increasingly popular pastime and finding the one that is right for you will depend on what it is you are hoping to achieve and how physically challenging you want it to be.

Making that first move into yoga might feel daunting but throughout the Bellarine, Surf Coast and Geelong region we are truly spoiled for choice when it comes to wonderful yoga studios and expert instructors.

You can also dip your toe into the yogi pond from the comfort of your own living room with many online options to choose from.

A yoga mat, block and comfortable exercise clothing is all you need to get started.

One of the most popular online options would have to be Yoga With Adriene on YouTube. Together with her adorable sidekick Benji the blue heeler, American yoga instructor Adriene Mishler offers free at-home classes suited to everyone and her warm, encouraging approach has rightly earned her a huge following.

Due to the pandemic, many local studios also now offer online classes.

Online yoga might be a good place to start but finding a local studio will have the increased benefit of feeling embraced by a like-minded community – something that is equally beneficial to our mental wellbeing as the physical and meditative benefits of the yoga itself.

So, back to the different types of yoga.

Let’s take a look at five of the options that are out there for you:

Hatha yoga is a traditional yoga practice suited to anyone seeking yoga that is steeped in tradition. It covers yoga asana (yoga poses), pranayama (breathing), meditation and relaxation. Research has shown that Hatha yoga has a wide variety of benefits, including stress reduction, reduced depression symptoms, muscle and joint flexibility, and core strength.

Vinyasa yoga (pronounced vin-yah-sah) is an approach to yoga in which you move from one pose directly into the next. There’s a flow to a Vinyasa yoga session, though the specific poses and the pace will vary from one instructor to the next. A fast-paced Vinyasa session can be provide more of a challenge. Benefits include improved energy levels, lower stress and anxiety, endurance and strength training, stability and balance, and cardio workout.

Bikram yoga is a class held in a heated room with almost 40° heat and 40 per cent humidity. where you work up a sweat while moving through a series of 26 poses. Be sure to take a water bottle to this class which has a range of benefits to sufferers of anxiety and depression, as well as those who have back and joint problems, among other medical conditions.

Ashtanga yoga is based on ancient yoga teachings and is a rigorous style of yoga that will appeal to those who like routine and a very physically challenging practice. Ashtanga always performs the exact same poses in the exact same order. Bring along a yoga mat towel to this class. Ashtanga is a powerful tool to tune the body, improving focus, balance and coordination.

Yin yoga is a peaceful practice that awakens and rebalances the physical and emotional self. Long holds work deep to unlock tension and cultivate stillness. Practiced in a warm room with music, it is an ideal way to relax and soothe frayed nerves. It is also designed to increase circulation in the joints and improve flexibility.