Which yoga is right for you? A friendly guide to the styles on our timetable

Walk into the world of yoga and you'll quickly trip over a tangle of names — hatha, vinyasa, ashtanga, bikram, yin, nidra… It can feel like you need a qualification just to pick a class. You don't. Here's a plain-English tour of the main styles, and how the classes on our timetable fit in.

First, the styles you might have heard of

Vinyasa (or "flow") is the one you'll see most often. Poses link together in a flowing sequence, guided by the breath. It builds heat, strength and a bit of a sweat. Great if you like to keep moving.

Ashtanga is vinyasa's stricter older sibling — the same set sequence every time, practised with discipline. Brilliant for some, but it can feel rigid if you're new.

 Hot yoga  is done in a room heated to around 40°C. Some people love the intensity; others find it a bit much. Either way, bring a towel.

Hatha is the gentler, slower root of most modern yoga. Poses are held a little longer, with time to find your alignment and your breath. It's where many people start — and where many happily stay.

Yin is slow in a different way. You settle into floor-based poses and hold them for several minutes, letting the deeper tissues — fascia, ligaments, joints — gently open. Quiet, patient, surprisingly powerful.

Restorative is the art of doing very little, very well. You're supported by bolsters and blankets so your body can fully let go and your nervous system can settle.

Yoga nidra isn't really a physical practice at all. You lie down, get comfortable, and follow a guided meditation into a state somewhere between sleep and wakefulness. Deeply restful — no downward dogs required.

So what do we actually teach?

Our timetable borrows the best of these styles and shapes them for real bodies and real lives, in small classes where the teacher actually knows your name.

• Hatha with flow — The steady, alignment-focused base of hatha, with enough flowing movement to build warmth and momentum. A brilliant all-rounder, whether it's your first class or your five-hundredth.
• Yoga sculpt — for days when you want more of a workout. Yoga with added strength work, so you leave feeling like you've properly moved.
• Yin yoga — long, quiet holds that target the deep connective tissue. If you're stiff from sitting, sport or life in general, this is the one.
• Restorative yoga — pure exhale. Supported poses, soft lighting, and permission to stop. Wonderful for stress, sleep and recovery.
• Yoga nidra — guided "yogic sleep", sometimes on its own, sometimes woven into the end of a yin class. People regularly tell us it's the best rest they've had all week.
• Yoga for men — a class just for the men. Improve your golf swing, your serve, or simply reach your seatbelt and tie your shoelaces with ease. No experience needed, no pretzel shapes promised.

Not sure where to start?

Honestly? It depends on your goals, your experience, or maybe lack of, your taste, your fitness level.

Which is why we welcome your enquiries.  Tell us a little about you and we can point you in the right direction.  Twice a year we also run introductions to yoga, they are very popular so if interested email to put your name on the waitlist.

Take a look at the timetable and book your first class — your mat (and your future self) will thank you.

Arden Wellness Hub, Greville Court, Knowle, Solihull — hello@ardenwellnesshub.com