Atlanta Yoga for Everyone!
Thanks to the meteoric rise in the popularity of yoga, the South's biggest city now boasts hundreds of yoga studios for every school of yoga that exists....well, every one that this author has ever heard of, and she's heard of a lot! There are a number of Atlanta yoga studios that thrive with just one style of yoga in their bag, but there are also plenty of others that offer a wide variety of classes- from prenatal yoga to bikram to ashtanga to vinyasa. Whatever your chosen practice, there is a studio in Atlanta that offers it on a convenient schedule.But as recently as a decade ago, finding yoga in Atlanta was not so easy. The heart of the South (or the buckle of the South, depending on your perspective) is not know for adopting many progressive programs that focus on things like health. We as a culture tend to like our things fried and convenient, with minimal work involved. But popularity goes a long way, and the yoga trend exploded in Atlanta over the last decade, leading directly to the convenient number of yoga studios that are scattered around the city like Starbucks and churches. They're everywhere.
Due to the sheer number of options, you may be asking yourself what type of yoga might suit you best. Here's a brief rundown of the styles and their levels of difficulty:
Birkam: Also known as 'hot yoga,' this style is designed to make you sweat- a lot! Temps in the yoga room are turned up for this class to between 85 and 100 degrees. Clean your body of toxins and your mind of thoughts- you'll be focused in these classes!
Astanga: Filled with dynamic, fast-moving poses, this is definitely the most physically demanding style of yoga. Good for a strong workout, but it can be very challenging to beginners without some intro classes.
Prenatal: Just some safe stretching.
Vinyasa: Also called 'flow yoga,' this style is great for all levels, as it teaches control in moving smoothly from one posture or pose to the next.
Hatha: The primordial style from which all other styles emerged. Focuses on control of the body through breathing and poses. It is known as the yoga of physical well-being. A great place to start.
Kundalini: Designed to awaken the body's energy, this style mixes poses, breathing and chanting; emphasis on the breath and chanting; a medium difficulty practice, in terms of physical strength required to start.
When/if you decide to start yoga, remember that it can be helpful if down under the watchful eye of a trained and experienced teacher. So start there, in a studio, with the help and guidance of someone who knows their yoga. It can save you a lot of accidental injuries.