Beginner's Guide to Yoga (Styles, Schools, Traditions) by Elise Espat

 I'll be honest.  My first official yoga classes were with Jane Fonda on a VHS tape in my living room.  When I eventually mustered up the courage to find a teacher, I had no idea what to look for, or even that there were different styles.  Overwhelmed, I made my decision based on 2 factors: location and price.  I ended up at a great place with some wonderful teachers.  I was really lucky.  This was years ago when there were maybe three places from which I could choose from in my area...and I was living in New York City!  Now, it is impossible to walk down the block in NYC without running into at least one yoga establishment.  While the vast number of options might feel overwhelming at first, consider yourself lucky.  More options mean more possibilities of finding something that really works for you.

Most yoga schools, shalas, studios, gyms, church basements, etc. offer Hatha yoga.  While the teachings might overlap some of the other systems such as Raja, Bhakti, or Karma, the foundation will be a physical practice with a combination of asanas (body positions) and breathing.  

Some popular practice styles and terms:

Anusara
John Friend
Website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anusara_Yoga
Sample: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZyuvVPDLfk

Ashtanga / Mysore
Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, R. Sharath Jois, Saraswathi Jois
Website: http://kpjayi.org/
Sample:  http://youtu.be/VGrGRBi0u28

Bikram
Bikram Choudhury
Website: http://bikramyoga.com/
Sample: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDWJos7PA-4

Dharma Mittra
Sri Dharma Mittra
Website:  http://www.dharmayogacenter.com
Sample:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kud7naxGiT4

Hot
Various
Website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_yoga
Sample: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWhO2Am35fE

Integral
Sri Swami Satchidananda
Website:  http://www.yogaville.org/
Sample: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Gyvofuc0NE&feature=related


Iyengar
Yogacharya B.K.S.Iyengar
Website: http://www.bksiyengar.com/
Sample: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVWvNtcu8-k&feature=related

Kripalu
Various
Website: http://www.kripalu.org/
Sample: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOt35-GQ_8w

Kundalini
Yogi Bhajan
Website: http://www.3ho.org/
Sample: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2RCNS1qvb8&feature=related

Jivamukti
Sharon Gannon and David Life
Website: http://www.jivamuktiyoga.com/
Sample: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlbwCQ7pejQ&feature=related

Sivananda
Swami Sivananda, Swami Vishnudevananda
Website: http://www.sivananda.org/
Sample: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rzY4zkYNVw&feature=related

Vinyasa
Various
Website: various
Sample: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LPLwC4pRzk

Part 2 coming soon.