Where to start with yoga? Even if you've never set foot on a mat?

Should I choose a particular style? (Yin, Vinyasa, Hatha, etc.)

Yin, Hatha, Vinyasa, Hatha, Asthanga… There's something for every taste and every need. It's not easy to find your way around when you've never set foot on a mat. Over time, more and more styles have appeared: some are directly derived from traditional yoga, others are more modern derivatives… and then there are the fanciful (sometimes very surprising) ones.

Between Yoga flow, yoga dance, but also Beer yoga or catyoga... it's easy to get lost! (Well, no need to tell you that the last two are absolutely not yoga but just marketing nonsense, right?

A quick overview of the most common styles:

Yin yoga:

Gentle and slow, almost motionless and accessible to all. We stay several minutes in each posture to release the tensions accumulated in the body, work on the deep tissues of the body (the fascia), and soothe the nervous system.

Perfect if you want to slow down, reconnect with your body and learn to do nothing (which is not as easy as you think!). Generally, very active people do not appreciate Yin yoga... and yet, it is often exactly what they need.

Hatha Yoga

A traditional yoga style, accessible to all. The postures are held longer than in Vinyasa, but shorter than in Yin. It works on strength, flexibility, concentration, and breathing. It's a great foundation for beginners; it's also the root of many other types of yoga. Vinyasa: A fluid, dynamic, and creative yoga style. The postures flow in time with the breath. It's a bit like a dance; each movement is connected to the inhale or exhale. Ideal if you like to move and sweat a little.

Vinyasa

A fluid, dynamic, and creative yoga style. The poses flow in time with your breathing. It's a bit like a dance; each movement is linked to the inhale or exhale. Ideal if you like to move and work up a sweat.

Ashtanga Yoga

Intense yoga. It's a highly structured practice, always using the same series of postures, and quite physically and mentally demanding. I recommend it if you enjoy challenges, discipline (being shouted at in a military-style manner), and gradual progress.

And the others…

There are plenty of other approaches (Iyengar, Kundalini, Yoga Nidra, etc.), but you don't need to know them all at the beginning.

The important thing is to try, feel, and above all, find a teacher and an atmosphere that makes you feel good. Yoga is a personal adventure. Don't hesitate to try different styles and teachers to discover what feels good to you. The important thing is to start, no matter where you are.