How to Choose the Right Yoga Class

With so many yoga styles available, it’s easy to feel unsure about which class to choose.

A helpful starting point is to look at your goals — what you want your body to feel and do better.

If Your Goal Is to Improve Flexibility

If your goal is to improve flexibility and range of motion, consider slower classes that focus on longer holds. Yin Yoga and Hatha Yoga are two styles of yoga in which static poses are held for longer periods of time. These classes allow muscles and connective tissue to soften gradually, helping to improve range of motion over time. They’re especially beneficial if you sit for long hours or feel tight in the hips, hamstrings, or back. Yin Yoga focuses more on deep passive stretches whilst Hatha Yoga incorporates more standing poses and builds strength and balance as well as flexibility.

If Your Goal Is Better Mobility and Co-Ordination

To improve mobility, balance and overall bodily control, choose classes with more active movement. Vinyasa Yoga, Gentle Flow or similar flow classes incorporate dynamic sequences where you move smoothly from one posture to another and poses are not held for a long period of time. The constant movement of the body promotes body awareness, co-ordination and controlled movement. Regular practice will improve strength, balance and joint stability.

If Your Goal Is to Increase Strength

If you want to increase strength, choose active classes such as Power Yoga, a strong Hatha Yoga class, or flow classes such as Vinyasa Yoga. These styles use bodyweight movements to build muscular strength and endurance. To focus on specific body parts or movements, you can try specialised classes such as Core Yoga, or even classes on arm balancing and inversions.

If Your Goal Is Relaxation and Tension Release

When your body feels overworked, sore, or fatigued, restorative practices such as Restorative Yoga or Yin Yoga can support recovery. These styles consist mostly of sitting and lying poses and focus on passive stretches supported by props, held for longer periods of time. This activates the parasympathetic nervous system, encouraging deep release and relaxation. Ideal if you feel stiff or stressed and need time to reset mentally and physically.

If Your Goal Is Consistent Movement and Overall Fitness

If your main goal is simply to move regularly and increase overall fitness, consistency matters more than intensity. Beginners to yoga may want to choose classes that are listed as "Basics" or "Fundamentals" as these classes may be easier to follow. However, a mix of flow classes (consistent controlled movement) and hatha or yin classes (longer-held poses) will help you stay active while improving strength, balance and flexibility.

Just Pick One

Ultimately, the best class is the one that you will attend consistently. Whether it's class style, location, timing, instructor or classmates - you won't know whether a class works for you until you try it for yourself. If you don't enjoy one class, no biggie. Try another.

Don't overthink it. Just pick one and try it.