Below, pro yogis weigh in on which types of yoga best suits various fitness goals so you can utilize the practice not just to boost your brain health and show off your leggings collection but also to optimize your performance—whatever that means for you. Click through to find out which type of yoga is right for you based on your needs.
According to certified yoga teacher Sophie Jaffe, vinyasa is your best bet if you’re hoping for total body toning as the constant flow of sequences requires you to activate multiple big and small muscle groups simultaneously. Though, if you want to focus more on improving your upper-body strength in particular, consider starting an Ashtanga practice. “In Ashtanga, you’ll find a focus on arm balances and abs work—it targets certain muscles and holds each pose for longer than a breath,” she explains.