Whenever I am hosting a Mia Brazilia Trunk Show in the Southern California region, I often get approached by customers who are excited about purchasing their first yoga clothing in preparation for beginning yoga classes. While a majority of customers are certain about their choice of Mia Brazilia yoga top, yoga bra, yoga short, or yoga pant, they are frequently less certain about which TYPE of yoga will be most suitable for their age, physical level of fitness, and temperament. With the booming popularity of yoga across the United States, there is no shortage of yoga types for beginning novices to experience for the first time. The following five yoga types are ideally suited for the beginning yoga practitioner:

1.) Restore Yoga

  • Restorative Yoga is a mellow, ease of movement yoga practice that encourages longer holding of yoga positions. These prolonged holds allow your nervous system to be engaged in a non-overwhelming way; thus, ideally suited for the beginning yoga student. Blankets, yoga blocks, and buttresses will be utilized to fully support your figure during each pose. Popular with Type-A personalities who need an activity that relaxes them, restorative yoga is also ideal for days in which you are recovering from a weight-training session at a local gym.

2.) Hatha Yoga

  • Similar to restorative yoga, hatha yoga is another gently-moving yoga class that focuses on the core poses for several breaths. Depending on the instructor, any hatha yoga class is an optimal initiation into the world of yoga for beginners, who can develop timing and breathing techniques along with correct physical posture before graduating to more challenging, yoga styles.

3.) Iyengar Yoga

  • If you wish to become even more detail-oriented about the “how” and the “why” behind yoga practice, sign up as a beginner for Iyengar Yoga. Iyengar instructors typically can offer the novice with a font of knowledge regarding correct anatomy, movement, and form (As a beginner, you will naturally struggle on occasion to follow precise, detailed instruction. Do not despair! This is quite normal……and expected). Each pose in this discipline is maintained for a longer period of time than more advanced yoga disciplines.

4.) Bikram Yoga

  • One of the more publicized yoga types, Bikram is comprised of a taut series of 26 poses and two breathing exercises held inside a room that is heated to a toasty 105 degrees Fahrenheit and over 40% humidity. Regardless of the studio location, every Bikram facility follow the same 90-minute routine. For some beginners, this scheduling peace of mind is quite appealing: The sequence and steps of the Bikram sequence are quite predictable after the first week of attendance. However, it is important for beginning yoga students to remember: hydration BEFORE a Bikram session is essential for your health and well-being.

5.) Yin Yoga

  • As the name implies, Yin yoga will let you discover your “inner zen” and offers a calming, meditative experience. Unlike Ashtanga or Vinyasa, Yin yoga poses are kept for several minutes at a time. During this period of engagement, the beginner will engage his/her deep, connective tissue, releasing any tension between mind and body. Yoga props are often used so that you can slowly release into the assigned posture, rather than necessitating any flexion or engagement of the muscles.

Restore, Hatha, Iyengar, Bikram, and Yin are all great introductions into the world of yoga for any beginning, aspiring student. Having learned so much from these yoga practices myself, I can assure any yoga novice that each of these yoga disciplines will leave you feeling more flexible, fit, and healthy and more prepared to advance to even more challenging yoga styles in the near future. Plus, the synergy between your body, mind, and soul will be restored. Enjoy!