Which yoga?

This is one of our most frequently asked questions by people new to the studio: I've never done yoga before, which class will be best for me? What is the difference between the types of yoga? 

Every yoga website or blog you find these days tries to explain the differences, and indeed we give short descriptions on our classes page. Despite this, at Maitri Studio we believe yoga is yoga. At its heart, the practice of yoga encompasses the fundamentals laid out in Patanjali's yoga sutras and other classic texts such as the Hatha Yoga Pradipika and the Bhagavad Gita. It is a method for stilling the mind and becoming at one with ourselves and with the universe. The various elements of yoga such as asana practice, meditation and breath work are tools in your kit to help with life. For example, ALL yoga is restorative to your whole embodied person, but we do mention 'restorative yoga' as a category because of the way teachers train these days, and because it is now a shorthand for yoga practiced with lots of supports, mainly on the floor and with longer holds. 

The styles of yoga may give you an idea of the particular interest or focus of the teacher, how dynamic the class is, and tell you a bit about where, how and for how long they have trained. It also may not! We understand that you also look for more in a teacher - you might want a certain teaching style, or like a particular sense of humour. All of us are more than happy to have you try a class, and we realise that not every teacher is for every student. None of us will be offended if you find your natural home with another teacher. 

It is worth mentioning that while we do give specific examples like yoga for menopause or pregnancy, restorative yoga, yin yoga, flow yoga and so on, many teachers will include elements within their classes or on rotation, and some will be able to accommodate people who are pregnant as long as they have the correct training. 

As Claire (studio director) is an Iyengar teacher, the most common class type is Iyengar yoga and so these are labelled with different levels to help you progress - but you're also welcome to stick to a beginners class for ever if you wish! Iyengar yoga classes tend to work on themes through the month, with standing poses / leg actions in week 1, seated / forward folds in week 2, backbends and shoulders in week 3 and finishing with inversions / restorative / pranayama in week 4. However we'll all mix and match and any week will include aspects of all. We specifically identify chair-based yoga for those who can't get up and down from the floor easily (or at all) and we state active or slower - 'active' is aimed at people who are generally fit and want a bit more action, while 'slower' tends to have an older clientele who need a bit more time and maybe props to help with balance. 

If you have a specific injury or illness, definitely speak to the teacher first to check their experience and whether they feel it is appropriate for you to join their class. Claire is a senior Iyengar yoga teacher and can advise. 

Most classes are labelled as 'general' or 'mixed' i.e. open to all levels from beginners onwards.

Maitri Studio is the base for teachers from the Iyengar system in Belfast, as we are fully equipped with the props we use to help students explore the poses. But we welcome teachers from all backgrounds provided they can prove their qualifications, have a personal practice and take a proactive approach to their continued development. 

It is worth remembering that Iyengar himself said "I have no right to brand my practices or teachings as Iyengar yoga. The only thing I am doing is to bring out the in-depth, the hidden qualities of yoga to the awareness of you all. What I do is pure, authentic traditional yoga. It is wrong to differentiate traditional yoga...there is no distinction between one yoga and another." 

And TKV Desikachar, who died last week: "The success of yoga does not lie in the ability to perform postures but in how it positively changes the way we live our life and our relationships".