As a yoga teacher, I get asked daily about which yoga is right, wrong, better or worse. Truthfully, you need to find a style that speaks to you, which can be hard to do when you don't know what the differences are!

yoga quick-guide

anusara: Playful. Expect to laugh and go upside down.
ashtanga: Athletic and vigorous.
bikram's: Consistent poses and very heated.
hatha: Foundation for many yoga styles. Great for beginners.
hot: Make sure to bring a towel - or two!
iyengar/restorative: With a focus on structure, usually uses blocks, straps for support.
kundalini: Focused on meditation and breathing.
power: An athletic and physically challenging style.
vinyasa/flow: A rhythmic class with lots of movement. Great for your 3rd or 4th class.
yin: A slow class that will take you deeper than you've ever gone.

Keep reading for the extended version of the above list to help you find a style that's right for you.

anusara

Expect a playful class with a strong focus on proper alignment and Tantric yoga philosophy (not what you're thinking). It (like most yoga) is derived from Hatha yoga.

ashtanga

This practice is very athletic and made up of six vigorous series of postures. It's one of the oldest forms of yoga and is considered to be the foundation of much of the yoga we see today in the west.

bikram

You're going to sweat in a Bikram's class, more than you ever thought was possible. Bikram yoga consists of 26 postures and breathing exercises repeated twice (that’s right 90 minutes) in a room heated to 105 degrees. Heads up - humidity is 40% and will knock you over the first time.

hatha

The foundation of every style of yoga mentioned here. Traditional Hatha yoga is a holistic path that includes disciplines, physical postures (asana), purification procedures, breathing (pranayama), and meditation. Hatha practiced in the West consists of mostly physical postures and is also recognized as a gentle introductory yoga for people new to yoga.

hot

By adding heat it is said that classes will help you lose weight, loosen your muscles (by adding increased range of motion) and improve your cardiovascular system. It differs from Bikram's in that the series of postures are not always (but can be) in any particular order and modifications are often offered.

iyengar/restorative

Expect a class emphasizing healing the body and mind through use of supported postures. One of the oldest forms of yoga, it’s for a person who loves technical intricacies and is also great for people who are new to yoga or have any issues with their health.

kundalini

Don't be surprised if your waving your hands like you just don't care or laughing uncontrollably (it's a type of meditation- I swear), this practice is intended to wake up the kundalini energy coiled at the base of your spine while activating chakras (energetic centers in the body), as well as detoxing the body and mind.

power

Many say Power yoga is the Western interpretation of Ashtanga. It is sometimes done in a heated room and focuses on the breath as fuel for the practice. This practice can be challenging for beginners, but is a nice balance to more gentle forms of yoga once you become comfortable with the different postures.

vinyasa/ flow

Derived from Ashtanga yoga, expect a class full of rhythmical flow (often combined with music) connecting each moment with unifying pranayama (breath). Classes can be more meditative or focused on the natural movement of the body, almost like dancing through postures. A great transition from Hatha when you’re looking for more of a challenge.

yin

Some believe that Yin yoga is the oldest form of Hatha yoga, since it is the ideal method of physical conditioning for prolonged meditation. Don't let the props and gentle movement fool you, this is not a form of restorative yoga. The long holds require that you focus and release all effort from the muscles.

Yin classes often use props like bolsters or blocks.

last but not least

Remember: your body is your best guide. You don’t have to stick to one kind of yoga, just do what your body needs!

There are many other styles not mentioned here that I encourage you to discover for yourself. Finally, if their is one piece of advice I can leave you with is: if it doesn't feel right, don't do it.

Want to try a complimentary yoga class? If you live near a lululemon location, find a complimentary yoga class near you.

I am seven days in to living the manifesto. Eating well, drinking fresh water, sweating once and a day and doing things that scare me left and right. One thing I committed to early on was to return to my daily yoga practice and have rocked the first series of Ashtanga on the beach in English Bay. Last week I was practicing and got into that 'yoga zone'. You know the one: eyes closed, postures solid and the sound of the breath filling every ounce of your body. After finishing my practice I turned around to see three people behind me in the same closing posture that I was sitting in. They had practiced with me, following me and were waiting (patiently) to ask me a slew of questions. I sat with them and answered what I could (and led them on a journey to the other answers) and concluded with a piece of advice that I had heard recently from Anusara teacher John Friend, who said the most important aspect of yoga is the yoga that you can't see. I saw a smile appear on all of their faces. We all laughed, they thanked me and continued our day. It was a great moment.

The experience made me go back to my first few months of asana practice when it was a fight to push the body beyond itself. It wasn't until I sat down and read Iyengar's Light on Yoga and Sri K. Pattabhi Jois's Yoga Mala that I really wrapped my head around what it means to live a yogic life (which included releasing my practice into whatever shape it took). It was then that I started feeling my yoga a little more, and not worrying so much about what it looked like.

I continue my practice today because it makes me feel good. As a teacher, I feel a sense of responsibility to be very present with my students, making sure they leave knowing something new about themselves and their bodies. I have listened and observed how hard we can be on our ourselves and how quick we are to point all that we are not capable of in life. In yoga I urge my students to be kind and patient with their bodies, reminding them that yoga will always be a practice and that there is no 'final game'. David Swenson once told me that on your death-bed it will not matter if you can sit in lotus or pull your leg over your head. What will matter is how much love you can experience in your lifetime.Yoga will always be a part of my life because it is a part of me. The beauty of yoga is that it takes many forms and that there is a yoga out there for everyone. For some it is running, writing or painting...whatever it is, put your whole self in it. Feel it and experience it for whatever it brings to your life. Others will see that passion and be inspired to find their own yoga.

The next manifesto line Oli is taking on: Communication is COMPLICATED. We are all raised in a different family with slightly different definitions of every word. An agreement is an agreement only if each party knows the conditions for satisfaction and a time is set for satisfaction to occur.

Follow me on Twitter @olimaughan or on Foursquare!

Read Oli's first post about why she's living the lululemon manifesto for 30 days: http://www.lululemon.com/community/blog/30-days-of-manifesto/

Remember when we asked you for your yoga questions for our inaugural Ask a Yogi series? Well, we're back, with answers! Read on for part 1 of Danielle's responses: How to Begin.

you asked...

Do you have any recommendations for people who are interested in getting into yoga? - Caroline

I want to start taking yoga but do not know where to begin. Is there a type of yoga that is recommended for beginners? - lara

I have taken yoga- very easy poses. I don’t know a lot about the different types. I am looking for a type of yoga that burns calories and builds strength and flexibility. - Tasha

I am very interested in yoga but don’t know where to begin. How should I start? - Emma

a yogi answers

Hi Caroline, Lara, Tasha & Emma,

I recommend that you jump in, give it a go and keep a regular schedule of yoga classes (e.g., two to four per week) for at least three or four months, which I believe is enough time for you to begin to appreciate all the wonderful physical and mental benefits of yoga.

I think it is easiest to stay motivated and have fun in a class setting, as opposed to learning from a DVD or video. Once you locate a convenient studio, gym or community centre where yoga classes are offered, start asking questions regarding what types of classes are offered and which ones are best for beginners. [Editor's note - complimentary yoga classes are offered at all lululemon locations and are a good way to sample different styles of yoga and instructors.]

Regarding the types of yoga: Iyengar yoga will provide you with a solid foundation since certified Iyengar teachers will emphasize precise and strict form in the poses but with many variations depending on the yogi’s level of flexibility and strength and will utilize straps and blocks to assist the yogis in getting into the postures. Ashtanga, power and other vinyasa flow classes are also very popular but can be overwhelming for some newer yogis since there is constant and challenging movement from one posture to the next. If you are looking for more of a sweat and detox practice then you could try hot yoga, which incorporates a slower-paced sequence with minimal variations from class to class.

In summary, find a studio or place to do it, find a style or styles you feel comfortable with, set a regular schedule, stick to it for at least three months and perhaps most importantly just have fun as you enjoy the benefits of a healthy body and a balanced, peaceful mind.

Best wishes!

Danielle
http://daniellemikanagel.com/

Do you have any thoughts on how to get started with yoga? We'd love to hear your comments and tips on being a beginner. Also check out My First Time, a blog post about your very first class.

Stay tuned for more Ask a Yogi answers, coming soon!

For ninety minutes, I was in a room with thirty-nine other deep breathing yogis, immersed in a set sequence of flows and poses made popular by the beloved Guru of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, Shri K. Pattabhi Jois. Little did I know that learning this practice two years ago would change the way I looked at myself, and at the world around me. That this practice is a way of life for many yogis across the world and would build diligence and patience to those who practiced steadily.

Ashtanga yoga was designed to be practiced daily. Every instructor I’ve had emphasizes it is important not to focus on the progression through the sequences as a measure of one’s success in the practice. The beauty of Ashtanga yoga is that the goal is to achieve improved health, clarity of mind, and above all else, contentment.

Pattabhi Jois, the Guruji of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, passed away in Mysore, India on May 18, 2009 at the age of 93. Respected and well known around the world, Pattabhi Jois touched everyone he met with his inspiring devotion to the practice he made so popular since he began his own yoga journey at the age of 12. Teaching for seventy years, Pattabhi Jois’ legacy in the yoga community will remain as a testament to the selfless dedication the practice embodies in its practitioners.

In July of 1915 during a full moon, Pattabhi Jois was born into what would become a truly inspiring life. Under the teachings of Sri T. Krishnamacharya (the grandfather of Ashtanga Yoga), Sri Pattabhi studied the Yoga Korunta - the most ancient form of Ashtanga. 

"Yoga is 99% practice, 1% knowledge." - Sri Pattabhi Jois

Today, 93 years after that fated full moon, we morn the loss of a father, a healer, a teacher, and a scholar. Sri Pattabhi's life was lived through his every breath. His teachings and his practice married this breath with movement to boil the blood and cleanse the system. Ashtanga's popularity is something he never expected, but could never deny. 

Sometimes we take our own practice for granted, forgetting that yoga is something sacred, and its practice is something we should always respect and never take lightly. Take that energy on the mat and remember that its benefits are endless and its possibilities limitless. Breath and take note of the person you are on and off the mat and the person you are working to become. 

And next time you are on your mat, take a moment and thank Sri Pattabhi Jois - those that came before him, and those that will come after him - for giving us a gift that has changed our world, our lives and ourselves. 

"Yoga is possible for anybody who really wants it. Yoga is universal. 
Yoga is not mine. But don't approach yoga with a business mind - 
looking for worldly gain. If you want to be near God, turn your mind 
toward God, and practice yoga."- Sri Pattabhi Jois

Read more about Sri Pattabhi Jois here or donate to his charitable trust here.