Whether it’s hot yoga, yoga sculpt, or vinyasa, yoga has been a popular form of exercise for its physical and<\/em> mental benefits.\u00a0But like with any exercise, it can be intimidating if you’ve never tried it.<\/p>\n How should you prepare for your first yoga flow? What the heck is vinyasa? We chatted with Frances Flores<\/a>, a former professional dancer turned yogi, to break down everything you need to know below.<\/p>\n What are the benefits?<\/strong> What’s the difference?<\/strong> How do you choose?<\/strong> How should you prepare?<\/strong> Ready to get your flow on? Head on over to FabFitFunTV<\/a>\u00a0now to try some of Flores’ exclusive workouts. From 15-minute core exercises to 30-minute energizing flows and simple yoga stretches, you’ll be a seasoned yogi in no time. If you’re not a member yet, sign up today<\/a>!<\/p>\n xx, The FabFitFun Team<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":"SPRING 2019 FABFITFUNTV PARTNER Whether it's hot yoga, yoga sculpt, or vinyasa, yoga has been ...","author":2488223,"featured_media":137692,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4,3],"tags":[],"thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/static.fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/02104426\/Roberto-Matteo-Photography-181.jpg","thumbnail_url_middle_card":"https:\/\/static.fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/02104426\/Roberto-Matteo-Photography-181-386x200.jpg","formated_date":"April 2, 2019","category_name":"Wellness","category_icon":"https:\/\/d3vodd1ws13xud.cloudfront.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/10113835\/health-2.svg","author_name":"","trending":false,"sponsored":false,"random_color":"#e26f73","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/137266"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2488223"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=137266"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/137266\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/137692"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=137266"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=137266"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=137266"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nIn addition to relieving stress, tension, and anxiety and detoxifying your body from the inside out, yoga also helps build lean muscles and improve body mobility and flexibility. “In that process, as we breathe and move our bodies, it forces us to connect with parts of ourselves that we might let go of or forget about when we\u2019re moving through our fast-paced lives,” says Flores.<\/p>\n
\nAlthough most yoga workouts are similar in that it encourages you to move your body while connecting to your breath, each kind of yoga practice varies in its specific method.<\/p>\n\n
\n“The best way to find the type of class that works for you is by trying as many different classes as possible and as many teachers as possible until you find one you connect with,” suggests Flores. “If you like to move your body a lot and have creative sequences that might change week after week, then vinyasa is your class. If you like the consistency of having the same routine week after week and enjoy a very hot room, then a hot yoga series might be for you. If you\u2019re looking for a slower-paced class that focuses more on stretching and finding stillness, then maybe a yin or restorative yoga class is your class. It is definitely a process of trial and error.”<\/p>\n
\nGo into it with an open mind and an eagerness to learn something new. No judgments and no expectations,” says Flores. “I recommend having a block or two as well as a strap in addition to the yoga mat, and if you\u2019re at home and don\u2019t have blocks, you can use sturdy books and a towel for a strap. Take it slow at first, and don\u2019t feel the need to do everything perfectly the first time you\u2019re trying it. The more you do it, the more natural it will feel. So start slow, have fun with it, and explore what your [body is] capable of!”<\/p>\n