slimster.net

I have had a number of people approach me lately about wanting to start yoga. Some of the big questions were, “Where should I go?”, “What are the classes like?” and “Will it help me relax/get in shape/lower my blood pressure?”.

Yes, yoga will help you lower your blood pressure, get in shape and calm you down. But if you live in Atlanta, a big factor is actually getting to a studio. If you get stressed out in traffic or have to rush to get to a class, thereby raising your blood pressure and anxiety, the net gain will not be as great. Duh.

My advice: try out 5 different places and/or styles of yoga. Start with a convenient location or travel to a not-so-convenient location on a Saturday morning when traffic is not an issue. Approach each place with an open mind as they will all be different. Go back and revisit your top 2 choices, learn more about their style and begin the process of integrating 1-3 practices at home every week. Use the weekly or bi-weekly class for learning, but start practicing at home. Buy a couple of videos related to your favorite style of yoga and just do it.

If you’re interested in ‘generic’, one-size-fits-all yoga, go to a gym. Gyms are much less touchy-feely and usually will not involve Ohms or chanting or incense. Most studios vary on their candle burning, feel-good, let’s chant in non-English components, but many of them have it. If that stuff freaks you out, stay at the gym. But gym yoga is like eating at McDonalds and there are a few McYogaStudios in the Atlanta area ready to serve the masses.

At the end of the day, yoga is about creating space between your last thought and your next thought. Just like in meditation, breath awareness is central to this process. Some types of yoga may not even mention the breath. Some types will have you sit in a room and do nothing more than breathing techniques. And the best way to learn about what works best for you is just to start trying. It’s like trying to describe the taste of an orange – the best way to know is to taste it yourself.

I hope to give a review of some of the yoga studios in Atlanta in a different post. Until then, here are some of the basic types of yoga and my take on them.

– Yoga based on the teaching of John Friend. Classes are challenging, some chanting in the beginning, are suitable for most and make you feel good. Inner and outer body alignment are focus points.

– Yoga based on the teaching of Pattabhi Jois (Guruji). Vinyasa, Power, Flow – these other forms of yoga are based on Ashtanga. Ashtanga has some chanting, synchronized breath and movement (vinyasa) and makes you sweat a lot. It is physically demanding and most suitable for the young, athletic and strong. I wouldn’t recommend it for a couch potato looking to start yoga. But the practice is fun and moves quickly.

– Yoga based on the teaching of Bikram Choudhury and involves a series of 26 yoga postures done twice, facing a mirror in a very hot room. Every teacher says the same thing in every class, literally. You like hot and constant? Bikram’s for you. Bikram makes you sweat buckets and does feel really good if you can stand the heat. I don’t believe they chant.

– Teaching styles vary greatly from teacher to teacher. There are some really good teachers, however, so don’t discount them altogether.

– Yoga based on BKS Iyengar. Iyengar is very focused on alignment and precision. Instructors are highly trained and have the most difficult road to certification. Classes can be very intense and may focus on very few postures. Generally good for all.

– These little gems usually have no advertising, are usually free or low-cost, and are often taught by very knowledgeable teachers. A “community center” might actually be a room in a local church.

I am leaving out many other systems but perhaps I’ll visit them at another time.