Last weekend, after the morning yoga classes had been taught, I joined a fellow teacher for brunch. We were tripping over each other to name all of the new yoga studios in the neighborhood. I had noticed one specifically because of the chalk advertising in the park, and cruised by one day to check it out. The classes were donation based, and the schedule was written on a chalkboard on the door. Intriguing, but what type of yoga was being practiced? There are many varieties of yoga and more being developed “marketed” every day. Here are just a few examples: Acro Yoga, Anti-Gravity Yoga, Anusara, Ashtanga, Bikram, Children/Kid Yoga, Doga (Dog Yoga), Hot Yoga (different than Bikrham), Hatha, Iyengar, Jivamukti, Kundalini, Pre-Natal, Power, Restorative, Yin, and Vinyasa. For more information, click here.

Just as your first downward dog can cause lightheadedness, choosing the right type of yoga style or studio to practice can be overwhelming. Many yoga studios offer a new student price break, but there is something I’ve just discovered in New York, and it feels like a hidden gem: a yoga pass. This book of coupons offers several classes to many different studios so you can try them out without committing to a membership. I also discovered OmPass or hit your favorite search engine to find options in your hood. Here is a sample of all the yoga studio’s in my neighborhood.

I recommend jotting down a few notes of your experience, maybe update your SmartPhone calendar entry with a few things that stood out to you, how you felt after class, the teacher’s name. Whether a new or continuing student, trying different studios, and teachers is a great way to explore your practice and figure out what feel right for you, or even what feels right – now. Regardless of the path, the journey is the same.

For more tips from Emilia visit her blog Balance In The City and follow her on Twitter.