Which Yoga Style is Right for You? Ashtanga Vinyasa, Mysore, and Restorative Explained
If you have ever looked at a yoga studio's schedule and felt immediately confused, you are not alone. Mysore, Ashtanga Vinyasa, Restorative - the terminology is not always self-explanatory, and choosing the wrong class for where you are right now can make the whole experience feel harder than it needs to be.
At AYM, we offer three distinct styles, each with its own purpose, rhythm, and ideal student profile. This guide will help you figure out which one to try first, and why.
Ashtanga Vintasa at AYM - Structure, Breath, and Contemporary Practice
The word "Ashtanga" can mean different things depending on the context. Most people know it as the dynamic yoga style developed by K. Pattabhi Jois - but Ashtanga also refers to Patanjali's Eight Limbs of Yoga, a much broader philosophical framework for how to live and practice.
At AYM, both meanings inform how we teach.
Our approach is rooted in the Ashtanga tradition of Jois, but over the years our teachers have branched out significantly in their studies. Inspired by the Krishnamacharya lineage, we observe Ashtanga through the lens of all eight limbs - not just the Jois branch of asana and pranayama. The wisdom of Iyengar, Hatha, Restorative, Yin, meditation, pranayama, and structural movement all find their way into our classes, offering a practice that is more inclusive, more adaptable, and more responsive to the needs of contemporary students.
While our Ashtanga Vinyasa classes draw inspiration from the traditional primary and intermediate series - and teachers often find their sequencing instincts shaped by those sequences - our classes are varied rather than fixed. Each class reflects the teacher's training, their reading of the room, and the broader knowledge they bring from across these traditions.
Ashtanga Vinyasa at AYM is a good fit if you:
Are drawn to a dynamic, breath-centred practice with an emphasis on alignment and intention
Want to build strength, flexibility, and body awareness simultaneously
Are looking for classes that are structured but varied - informed by tradition without being rigidly bound to it
Are a complete beginner or an experienced practitioner - all levels are welcomed and accommodated
Mysore, the Traditional Self-Practice Format
If you are looking for traditional Ashtanga practice in its original form, Mysore Montreal, hosted at AYM, offers exactly that.
Mysore is the format in which Ashtanga yoga was traditionally taught, and it is unlike any other yoga class you have likely encountered. There is no teacher calling out instructions to the group. Instead, each student practises their own version of the Ashtanga sequence at their own pace, while the teacher moves through the room offering individual guidance and adjustments.
The result is a practice that is simultaneously deeply personal and profoundly supported. You work at your own pace, breathe at your own rhythm, and receive teaching tailored specifically to where you are that day, not where the group is.
Mysore is often described as the most efficient yoga teaching format in existence. One teacher can give twenty students individual attention in a single session.
Mysore is a good fit if you:
Want an individual practice with personalised attention and instruction within a group setting
Are specifically interested in the traditional Ashtanga Vinyasa sequence of Pattabhi Jois
Have a flexible morning schedule, Mysore at AYM runs from 7:00 to 10:15am daily
Are a complete beginner, despite what many people assume, Mysore is one of the best environments in which to start, because you are never left to figure things out alone
If you are considering Mysore for the first time, we recommend reaching out to us before your first session so we can give you a proper introduction to the format.
Restorative Yoga, Rest as Practice
Restorative yoga offers a different approach to practice. Rather than asking the body to move, strengthen, and engage more, it asks us to pay closer attention to how we are moving, what patterns we have developed, and what the body may need to return to a greater sense of balance.
Using props - bolsters, blankets, blocks, and straps - the body is guided into deliberately supported positions designed to recognise and gradually shift habitual patterns, restore balance to the nervous system, and create a more integrated foundation for movement. This is not passive rest. Intention drives every position, and attention is what the practice asks of you.
It is one of the most underestimated practices in yoga. For people carrying stress, fatigue, physical limitations, or simply wanting to better understand how their bodies move, and for active practitioners looking to complement a more dynamic practice, Restorative yoga offers a thoughtful way to reset, reorganise, and build a stronger foundation for movement.
Restorative at AYM is a good fit if you:
Want to better understand your own movement patterns and how your body responds to instruction
Are recovering from injury or managing physical limitations
Want to complement an active yoga or fitness practice by developing a stronger foundation for movement
Find it challenging to slow down and would like to explore what happens when intention, rather than intensity, drives your practice
Want to develop a more attentive and responsive relationship with your body
Want to prioritise nervous system recovery while giving the body space to reset and reorganise
So, Which One Should You Start With?
The honest answer depends on where you are right now. Here is a simple guide:
If you are brand new to yoga: an Ashtanga Vinyasa All Levels class is an excellent starting point. Alternatively, a Restorative class offers a slower, more supported introduction if that feels more appropriate.
If you are returning after a break or managing stress or injury: Restorative is the natural re-entry point. It meets you where you are without asking for more than you have.
If you are specifically drawn to Ashtanga: start with an Ashtanga Vinyasa class to experience parts of the sequence with guidance or reach out about Mysore if you prefer an individual practice in a group setting.
If you are not sure: try our intro week and use it to explore different classes and teachers. Most people find their practice within the first two weeks
The best yoga class is the one you attend consistently. Start there.
Find Your Class at AYM This Fall
AYM offers beginner-friendly classes every week at our downtown studio, steps from Place-des-Arts. Our teachers are experienced at welcoming people who have never set foot on a mat, and at making sure they want to come back.
New to the studio? Try your first full week of unlimited yoga, all styles, all teachers, for just $25. It is the most efficient way to find your class and your teacher without committing to anything long-term.
→ View the schedule and book your first class: ashtangamontreal.com/schedule
→ Not sure where to start? Get in touch: info@ashtangamontreal.com
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