Hatha Yoga

Hatha is the broad family of physical yoga that most Western classes descend from. When a studio schedule says "Hatha", it usually means a general-purpose class: individual poses held for several breaths each, taught one at a time rather than linked into a continuous flow. You set up a pose, stay in it, come out, and move on to the next.

The pace is unhurried. A typical class opens with a few minutes of seated breathing or gentle warm-ups, works through standing poses, balances, seated poses, and a backbend or two, and closes with a short inversion or rest. Rooms are kept at normal temperature, and props — blocks, straps, blankets — are welcome whenever they help.

Because poses are held statically and explained as you go, Hatha is a practical first style: you have time to hear the instructions, feel what your body is doing, and adjust. It is not easier than other styles by definition — holds can be demanding — but it is the most forgiving place to learn the basic vocabulary of poses.