If you are new to yoga and looking to try it out, there are many choices. It’s important to understand that having ‘success’ with yoga means having the patience to find the right fit for you, because there is no such thing as ‘yoga is not for me’. There are many different styles of yoga and many teachers within each style. For every age, body type, and skill level there are classes out there. Discovering the right class with the right teacher for you is worth the effort. After all, few things can give you in just one hour the many benefits of yoga (depending on the style): aerobic exercise, anaerobic exercise, stress reduction, strength, flexibility, spirituality, and connection to a loving community. Flexibility has also been shown to increase blood flow to the brain and help in the aging process.

The first step is to commit to research, meaning to try out a couple of classes per week for a couple of months until you’ve found what makes you feel best. Try out more than one studio to determine which vibe you like better. If you’re fit or looking for a ‘workout’, Power, Vinyasa and Ashtanga classes are a good place to start because of the yoga pushups (Chatturanga) and the faster movement. Traditional classes are often referred to as Hatha – they are slower and tend to be more mindful. If you want to relax, Restorative yoga is wonderful and less intense than Yin yoga. In both of these you do fewer postures with longer holds. There are also ‘specialty’ options like Kundalini yoga, Yoga Nidra (a lying down guided meditation), Adaptive yoga, Chair yoga and more.

Look for ‘level 1’ or ‘all levels flow’ and make sure to tell the teacher that you’re new to yoga and if you have any injuries.

Once you’ve found the type of yoga that your body likes, try different instructors within that style to get the experience that fulfills you. Each teacher brings their own personality and atmosphere to the class. Most yoga studios have an intro special of some kind (free week or 30 days for $40) and you can also find deals on Groupon.

Two of my favorite teachers in Denver are Beth Sanchez and Jeremy Wolf. They are both knowledgeable, experienced, kind, and live what they teach. Currently my favorite studio is Sol 19 Yoga in Longmont where I teach a weekly class.