From Hot Yoga and Vinyasa to Yin and Kemetic Yoga, wellness entrepreneurs and yoga teachers explain the benefits of yoga and how to find a practice that works for you.
By Mapaballo Borotho
Romanticising life means intentionally choosing to notice and appreciate the beauty, meaning or magic in the ordinary parts of your life, even when life itself isn’t perfect.
And what better way to do that than by taking care of your body, your mental health and your overall wellness?
After all, it is your body and your mind that carry you through some of the most difficult moments of your life.
Pour back into them, and they will definitely thank you.
There are so many ways to pour back into yourself and to romanticise your life, but today, we are focusing on yoga.
Did you know there are different types of yoga, each with its own physical and mental benefits?
Wellness entrepreneur and yoga teacher Banesa Moluoa Tseki says yoga can help improve mobility and flexibility, while some forms can also build considerable strength.
“It also takes the body through ranges of movement that we often do not access in everyday life. This can be beneficial for the fascia, which is the connective tissue that runs throughout the body and plays an important role in how freely and comfortably we move.
For me, one of the most powerful mental benefits is the relationship between movement and breath. The moment you become conscious of your breathing, you are brought back into the present. For people who spend a lot of time in their heads, that can be quite profound,” she said.
Though yoga is often associated with flexibility and physical strength, Banesa says it also teaches you to become more aware of what is happening internally.
It can be incredibly helpful because it allows you to slow down and reconnect with yourself.
She says it can also help you recognise where you carry tension and how your body responds when you feel overwhelmed.
“Over time, you also begin to notice where you carry tension as well as your natural baseline and how your body responds when that baseline is disrupted or you are overwhelmed.
That is where, for me, yoga becomes much more than exercise. You learn how to come back to yourself and to the present moment rather than constantly being pulled along by everything happening around you.”
So, what type of yoga is right for you?
There’s Hot Yoga, a style of yoga practised in a heated room, where the heat can make the practice feel particularly intense and immersive.
While many people swear by Hot Yoga, Banesa says she personally prefers allowing the body to create its own heat through movement and breath.
“Personally, as someone whose practice is rooted more traditionally, it is not a style I gravitate towards. Hot yoga is more of a modern format than a traditional branch of yoga. In a heated room, the body can feel far more open and supple than it would under normal conditions, which can create the impression that you have access to a greater range of movement than you actually do. That can make it easier to push past your natural limits and potentially injure yourself.”
Hot Yoga is not synonymous with Bikram Yoga, although Bikram is a specific form of hot yoga. Bikram follows a set sequence of 26 postures and two breathing exercises in a heated room. For example, Indie Hot Yoga in Fourways offers Hot26/Bikram alongside Vinyasa Flow and other styles.
But there is no right or wrong choice. Banesa says the type of yoga you choose ultimately depends on you and what you want to achieve from your practice.
“If you enjoy something physically challenging, you might connect with Power Vinyasa or Ashtanga. If you are tired, stressed or looking for something slower, Yin or Restorative Yoga may be a better fit. Someone drawn to meditation and energetic breathwork may enjoy Kundalini.”
You don’t have to be flexible to start yoga
Kaya 959 also sat down with Sally Gutjahr, owner of Yoga Experience in Illovo, to find out more about yoga, the different styles and how beginners can get started.
When asked how people can figure out which style is best suited to their needs, fitness level and lifestyle, Gutjahr says the best approach is to try different options and find what works for you.
“The best way is to find what works in terms of time, location etc – try it out and if it’s enjoyable, stick with it for a while before trying the next thing. Most forms of yoga are suited to all fitness levels as one practices in your own range.”
She also advocates for consistency, saying that stopping and starting can be jarring for the body.
Yoga studios you can try around Johannesburg
And in Johannesburg, where all dreams are built, we can also build our bodies and pour back into ourselves at one of the many yoga studios around the city.
Yoga Experience
Based in Illovo, Yoga Experience offers yoga classes and can be a starting point for those looking to explore the practice.
Breathe Hot Yoga
Located in Rosebank, Breathe Hot Yoga is an infrared-heated studio offering classes including Somatic Flow, Signature Flow and Power Vinyasa. Its classes range from slower, grounding sessions to stronger, more intense practices.
Indie Hot Yoga
Indie Hot Yoga is based in Fourways and offers a range of heated yoga classes, including Hot26/Bikram and Vinyasa Flow, as well as Pilates.
Ikigai Yoga
Located in Parkview, Ikigai Yoga offers group yoga classes for different levels, with classes including Vinyasa as well as more restorative practices. The studio also offers private, prenatal and postnatal yoga.
There are many other yoga studios accessible around Johannesburg and Gauteng, and you don’t have to stick to just one type of yoga.
Explore.
Try different styles.
Listen to your body.
And, most importantly, find the practice that your body and mind actually align with.
Because romanticising your life doesn’t always have to mean buying something beautiful or escaping to somewhere new.
Sometimes, it can simply mean getting onto a yoga mat, taking a deep breath and choosing to pour a little more of yourself back into you.
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