Pick Your Yoga Practice

Millions practice yoga, but what kind? Hatha, Ashtanga, Bikram, Iyengar? Hot room, flowing, or held postures, with or without meditation and chanting? And everyone practices for different reasons - weight loss, strength training, injury healing, relaxation. Those new to yoga should know they have choices (so as not to be put off by one bad fit), and regular practitioners should know that there are dozens of ways to expand or reinvigorate their routine. This is the first yoga book to help everyone interested understand all their options. Eight of the most prominent yoga approaches, plus ten "best of the rest," are explained in terms of what a class is like, level of physical exertion, and philosophical and spiritual underpinnings. As in the fairy tale, some may find some yoga too hot or too cold, too hard or too soft - but virtually everyone can find a yoga that is just right.

On the surface it may appear that yoga is yoga is yoga, but take a closer look and you’ll discover myriad different yoga systems and lineages. There are dozens of yoga styles to choose from, and while yoga is for everyone, not every style is the perfect fit for every person. But how do you choose between mysterious-sounding names such as Ashtanga, Kundalini, Bikram, and Kripalu? As Meagan McCrary discovered when she began exploring different classes, finding the right style is essential for establishing a steady yoga practice. Pick Your Yoga Practice is the first book to describe the most prominent yoga styles in depth, including teaching methodology, elements of practice, philosophical and spiritual underpinnings, class structure, physical exertion, and personal attention. Those new to yoga will discover they have options and can confidently attend a class of their choosing, while experienced practitioners will expand their understanding of the vast world of modern yoga, and perhaps find themselves venturing into new territory.

Styles included:

Ashtanga

Iyengar

Kundalini

Integral

Kripalu

Bikram

Jivamukti

Sivananda

Ananda

Viniyoga

Svaroopa

Power

Forrest

ISHTA

Anusara

Moksha

AcroYoga

About the Author

Meagan McCrary is a certified yoga instructor and journalist. Her yoga, wellness, and lifestyle writings are widely featured online and in print. She lives in Los Angeles, California, where she teaches at various Equinox Sports Clubs, and leads yoga retreats nationally and internationally.