What's the Best Style of Yoga?

Ashtanga, Jivamukti, Kundalini. These aren't exotic foods, they're a sampling of the many styles of yoga commonly practiced in homes, studios and gyms worldwide. Should you stretch more and breathe less? What about posture? Depending on the type of yoga you choose, you'll either find yourself feeling completely rejuvenated, or wondering what you woke up early for. Which style is best for you?

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Certain Disciplines Appeal to Certain Learning Styles

Jenny Everett King

Mind-Body Wellness Professional

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Psychology has determined that different brains, quite simply, learn differently. Some students learn through visual means (in other words, they need to see a pose in order to understand it). Others are auditory learners, and can comprehend a pose simply by having it explained to them. Still other students are kinesthetic learners. These students must experience the pose in order to understand it.

While not a necessary component of teaching a specific style, various breeds of yoga tend to present information differently. Iyengar yoga is often very didactic; demonstration with explanation is the first element of instruction. I have seen students fail to grasp the actions suggested for a pose until they are in the pose themselves. Only when they can “feel” the pose does the action begin to make sense. For these students, a style of yoga (such as Ashtanga) where they can be safely guided into poses with verbal cues is most appropriate.