What kind of yoga do we practice at 24 Hour Fitness?

There are so many "styles" of yoga that are offered in the United States today, you might have wondered, "Just exactly what type of yoga is taught at 24 Hour Fitness?" An excellent question. Like all excellent questions, however, the answer is rather complicated.

The short answer: Hatha yoga is primarily taught in the Group X room for 24 Hour Fitness members. Hatha yoga comes from the Sanskrit words for sun (ha) and moon (tha). This type of physical yoga practice works to balance the body and is often practiced with asanas in "opposing pairs." Hatha yoga provides low-impact exercise for both body and mind, which is why it is classified as a Group X Mind/Body class. Hatha yoga uses asanas (poses) and pranayama (breathing techniques) to increase flexibility, balance, and relaxation. Some purists (Bart Simpson?) insist that Hatha yoga is not a style, but a technique within the larger practice of yoga.

The longer answer addresses four basic components of any yoga class: student level, philosophy, time, and instructor experience.

Addressing the most important component, student level, Hatha yoga is well suited for many levels of fitness. The poses, or asanas, can be modified or adapted to match an individual's fitness and/or physical limitations. If helpful, some instructors encourage the use of props or straps for the best alignment (implementing part of Iyengar yoga methods). Linking breath to movement, one part of yoga practice emphasized in Vinyasa yoga, is often done during the sun salutation part of yoga practice at 24 Hour Fitness. And so, while the classes at 24 Hour Fitness are primarily Hatha yoga (a discipline mainly focused on asanas), parts of the class also integrate Vinyasa yoga (one breath, one movement) as well as Iyengar yoga (focus on proper alignment and avoidance of injury).

On the other hand, some yoga "styles" require students to conform to certain conditions (a room heated to 108 degrees Farenheit or more, as in Bikram yoga), to have mastery of certain poses (some of which can be dangerous if not performed correctly, such as head stands), to focus on a fixed set or sequence of asanas (such as Bikram or Ashtanga yoga), or to move continuously from one pose to another with minimal instruction or cues (as in Ashtanga Flow yoga or Power yoga). What is most important at 24 Hour Fitness is for every practitioner to experience a measure of success and challenge within the bounds of safety. Many instructors have had years practicing within a variety of yoga disciplines and integrate a mix of asanas and techniques to insure an optimal student experience. For example, I occasionally mix up my class's routines with a few sequences from Bikram yoga's warm-up and standing/balancing poses, but only after I am confident that the class members have brought their bodies' temperatures up to a good level.

Yoga began as a spiritual discipline and has a rich history of meditation, philosophy, and holistic medicine. At 24 Hour Fitness, yoga classes are offered as mind/body classes. While we briefly touch on the meditative and restorative aspects of yoga, little time is spent on the spiritual dimension. There is no chanting as in Kundalini or Jivamukti yoga. A positive and supportive environment, much like that of Anusara yoga, is part of the climate at 24 Hour Fitness, but no one is asked to embrace any particular Tantric philosophy regarding good and evil. Although there is a strong connection between any mind/body exercise, such as yoga, we make no claims about restoring your mental or emotional health (as do the schools of  Forrest and Kripalu yoga). The extent of our practice is focus, mindfulness, and taking time for our physical self. Any additional benefits, psychological or emotional, are determined by each student's personal spirituality. Meditation, a practice often connected with yoga (utilized by many schools, particularly Integral and Sivananda yoga), is best done at home and on an individual basis in accordance with personal spirituality. Your diet--omnivore, vegetarian, or vegan--is not up for discussion at a 24 Hour Fitness yoga class, while other yoga philosophies have distinct points of view as to what is or isn't allowed.

At 24 Hour Fitness, yoga classes are formatted to be 60 minutes in length. That hour of practice is adequate time to focus the students' attention, warm up the muscles, engage in vigorous practice, slowly cool down, and benefit from final relaxation. Any shorter time would be too rushed and not of much benefit (and a very important reason for getting to class on time and staying through savasana!). Any time longer than 60 minutes would impact classes that follow. At a number of yoga studios, practice time is extended to 90 minutes, thus giving students more time within each component of their practice (for example, savasana usually lasts from 5 to 10 minutes). Because many of our Group X members take advantage of the many types of class offerings, often their yoga practice is only part of their fitness routine. A majority of 24 Hour Fitness's yoga practitioners take a class in addition to 24 cycle, or weight training, or pilates. For those Group X class participants, yoga is part of a large repertoire in their fitness plan.

And finally, each Group X yoga instructor comes as an individual with distinctively different backgrounds in yoga. Some of us have been practicing yoga for years, in studio settings and in university settings. Others of us teach yoga as part of our many certifications for other Group X classes such as 24 Cycle, 24 Life, 24 Cycle, Pilates, and Strength Endurance Training. Each instructor is well-qualified and holds certification in yoga. Each brings life experiences and strengths to the format. Some of us teach a more "laid back" format with an emphasis on stretching and balance; others teach a challenging, calorie-burning class; and some teach a class focused on alignment and instruction. Most yoga classes are a blend of several approaches and styles, and vary not only by instructor, but from day to day. Introducing different poses as well as familiar asanas keeps the format from becoming stale. (After more than two years of Bikram's same 26 asanas in exactly the same order, I can tell you that it was a challenge to keep my practice from becoming routine.) There is a real mix of yoga styles within the Group X yoga format.

Enjoy the one(s) that work best for you. Try some different classes. And rest assured, you're receiving yoga instruction that combines the best from a variety of schools.

Namaste,

Nancy