What kind of yoga should I choose? – Why doesn't yoga work the same way every day?

Many people start practicing yoga by immediately asking the question “when?” Is it better in the morning or at night? Before or after work? On an empty stomach or after eating? These are important questions, but they don’t tell us what most people are really looking for: why yoga doesn’t work the same way every day .

The same practice can be liberating one day, tiring or even meaningless the next. This is not because we are “doing it wrong”, but because how we arrive at the practice is important . The effect of yoga depends much more on the state we are in on a given day than on the exact time we do it.

Why doesn't the same yoga always work?

If you search for “what yoga style should I choose,” you’ll often get lists of styles: flow, hatha, yin, ashtanga. These are useful, but they don’t take into account that your workload, fatigue, or tension that day matters much more than the name of the chosen style.

There are times when you are full of thoughts, tense, and can hardly slow down. Other times you are more exhausted, your body is heavy, and you don't have the energy to practice for a long time. There are also times when you are not really tired, but you still feel broken. These are different situations, and not the same yoga will help them .

How do you choose yoga for your mood that day?

Exercise becomes a real support when you don't automatically choose it, but rather look at how you are doing .

– If you are tense and overworked:
A more dynamic flow or power type of exercise can be good, but it is important to have a cool-down and relaxation at the end. Without this, the body will get tired, but the tension may remain.

– If you feel exhausted:
Too intense yoga doesn't recharge you, but rather depletes you. In this case, slower hatha, yin elements, or shorter, more relaxing movements really help.

– If you are “neither here nor there”:
When you're not particularly tired but lack focus, a gently activating exercise can bring balance. Not too fast, not too slow, but more of a rhythm.

This approach helps ensure that yoga is not another expectation, but a response to what you are going through right now .

What makes this a ritual, not just a movement?

The difference is not in the poses, but in the beginning. A ritual begins when you stop for a moment and ask yourself the question:
“How am I feeling now?”

You don't have to analyze it, you don't have to formulate it well. Just notice it. This single step gives direction to the practice. In this way, yoga does not separate itself from everyday life, but starts from it.

Why does it work this way in the long run?

Many people stop practicing yoga after a few weeks or months because they keep trying to do the same thing over and over again—even when it no longer fits their life situation. But if you learn to adjust to how you feel, your practice will remain flexible and not become a chore.

This is not a question of style, but of attention. Yoga thus becomes not a set of rules, but a tool that helps you to regain balance again and again.

The Ayuna Ritual approach

Ayuna Ritual doesn't tell you when or how you "should" do yoga. Rather, it invites you to first notice how you arrive at the practice. From there, it's much easier to make good decisions - whether it's dynamic, slow, or relaxing movement.

Balance is not a fixed state, but a continuous attunement. Yoga is not a goal in this, but a subtle help.

Ayuna mini ritual – before practice

Before you start moving, stop for a minute. Notice your breathing and how tired or tense you are. Don't name it, don't judge it. The practice should start here - not elsewhere.