With the hustle and the bustle of the holidays behind us, it’s time to look at what the New Year has to offer. Many people are making their resolutions – the old standards such as losing weight, cutting back on coffee, being nicer to people, travelling more, etc. Instead, consider starting a yoga practice.

Many people think that yoga is difficult and requires getting into gravity-defying poses, eating nothing but wheatgrass and sweating in a room set to 100 degrees. Some worry that they are not going to be good at yoga and fear of judgment prevents them from trying it.

Well, what if I told you that you don’t ever have to be “good at yoga” at all?

Yoga is a practice, and it is called this for a reason. You set your own pace, find your own edge and challenge yourself when you feel comfortable doing so. If there is a pose your body is not feeling that day, back off of it. There is no judgment and no requirement. Just show up and let your body be present in the current moment. Escape from your busy work or school day for an hour or so. It is not about being good. It is not about being flexible. It is not about being a health nut. It is about JUST being.

There are many different types of yoga, and you may prefer one style over another. Here is a breakdown of the five most common types of practices:

Vinyasa: This is my favorite. It is flowy, connecting your movements with your breathing, and gives just enough of heart rate increase to feel like a workout without being too strenuous. It is often set to calm music and creates a sense of focus through continued and controlled movement.

Bikram: This is not for everyone, but you may enjoy it. The room is very warm and humid. This is a great way to improve flexibility and sweat out toxins. There are 26 specific poses and a sequence to these which doesn’t vary. Drink a lot of water before practicing. Hot Yoga is similar, but doesn’t follow the same rigid sequence.

Yin: This is a wonderful practice that is more mind-centered and restorative. Yin poses are held for a few minutes each and stretch the deeper muscles and tissues. This is great for flexibility and simply relaxing into poses and focusing on being in the present moment.

Kundalini: For those who would like a more spiritual connection in their practice, this is for you. It is challenging and exercises not only the body but the breath. It incorporates meditation and chanting with the goal to achieve self-awareness through connecting to the spiritual energy around and in us.

Hatha: This is a great practice for beginners. It is fairly slow-moving, and you hold poses for short amounts of time. It is about balancing your physical and mental energies and focusing on postures.

Every year, the number of people practicing yoga increases by 15 percent to 20 percent – and with good reason. The benefits of yoga include increased muscle tone, strength and flexibility, a balanced metabolism, increased energy, cardio health, mental focus, joint and spinal health, improved circulation, balanced blood pressure, stress relief, better sleep habits, depression relief, improved concentration and memory, boosted immune system, lung health, self-awareness, improved balance and more.

Worcester and the surrounding area are full of places to take a class, and most studios allow drop-ins. Flowforms Yoga on June Street offers all levels of yoga, as well as private classes. Union Street Yoga has yoga, reiki, massage therapy and wellness classes. Metrowest Yoga on Prescott Street has a beginner’s course, as well as many hot yoga classes available. Central Mass Yoga and Wellness in nearby West Boylston is offering a free introduction to yoga on Jan. 8 – sign up at centralmassyoga.com.

Remember, yoga is not about finding perfection. It is about the understanding that perfection does not exist and that we are who we are now, in this present moment, and being OK with that.

The pure light in me honors and respects the pure light in you. Namaste.

By Jennifer Russo