Style is the mind skating circles around itself as it moves forward.

- Robert Frost

Practicing yoga is a great way to find a part of you that you never knew existed, or has been missing for a while, or one that you don’t ever really get a chance to unleash in our crazy world. At least that is what I have found through my own yoga practice. There are types of yoga classes and styles that I prefer and then ones I don’t. I used to wonder how this could be as much I truly love yoga and all that it encompasses, but as I continued to practice and listen I learned the answers.

One of my friends and I used to ride to the studio together and then seperate once we got there to take different classes, she Bikram and myself either power or flow. One day in class it came to me why I didn’t care for the Bikram over the flow (vinyasa style) and it had nothing to do with the actual poses. You see Bikram is a set series of 26 postures, each done twice in a heated room and flow is whatever the teacher makes it when they teach, each class being a little different depending on the teacher and their style. So, when I realized, gosh – my day to life is very structured and my friend Nicole’s hers was not, hers was very creatively open each day as she worked in sales. Her schedule was hers to schedule as she wished and mine was not. Therefore, when I went to practice yoga I wanted a more creative style and she wanted a more structured one.

Later as I learned more about Ayruveda and the principles that encompass it, I realized that with my pitta doshas (being a natural red head) I already generated enough internal heat that I really didn’t need extra added heat with a heater in my practice. Maybe if I lived in Chicago (in the winter) that would be different, but in Florida it was what it was.

Those of you who are new to yoga, or just experiencing all of the elements you can, you might find that there is a particular style that you enjoy practicing more than another and you might not. But, don’t let what you choose be determined (just like anything else in your life) by those around you. You decide! It’s your practice!

All that being said, many of you have asked as I have given you Yoga Vibes free class passes to try a class on their site, which classes I like the best and can I recommend some for you – well of course – I can and here they are, but please remember they are all about the styles that I like- Vinyasa Flow & Yin. I have to be honest though, I haven’t come across a single yoga class on Yoga Vibes that I didn’t like. However, it seems when I sit down to choose one and see how my body feels in that moment I choose according to that feeling. Actually, now that I think about it, that is another nice thing about Yoga Vibes, you aren’t locked down to what classes are offerred at the studio you are practicing at the time you can practice.

So here goes (in no certain order of course):

• Christina Raffa (shoulder opener)
• Denise Payne (level 3-4 class, poses you have never seen before)
• Elinore Cohen
• Chrystal Rae Almeida
• Erin Jacquez
• Erin Morgan (both classes)
• Gabriel Azoulay – yin
• Ingrid Yang – energetic flow/power
• Jene Rossi
• Jennifer Beyt Coffin
• Joan Hyman
• Kathryn Budig (handstands!)
• Teen yoga class
• Laura Schneider
• Rolf Gates (all)
• Sadie Nardini (live class)
• Sage Roundtree
• Shayla Worsley (great hips here)
• Shawn Shaw
• Issac Pena (different type of flow – one of my most favs)

Classes I haven’t taken, but are on the list to take soon-

• Joe Taft’s Anusara – this class fills up in Asheville, NC
• Faith Hunter

What is your yoga style?

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