How long should a yoga class last

Most people think of yoga as a workout that lasts an hour or so. But the truth is, yoga sessions can last anywhere from five to 90 minutes — or even longer! So how long should your yoga session be? If you have just 20, 10, or even 5 minutes, you can squeeze in a yoga session. Online practices of these lengths are readily available, or perhaps you practice on your own with just a few Sun Salutations, the classic energizing warmup of many yoga routines.

Yoga can be done as often as you’d like and as often as your body will allow. Those new to yoga should start slow with one or two or three sessions a week and slowly ramp up their practice as they are able to handle it. More experienced yogis might practice every day or have longer sessions on a schedule to allow for recovery. Yoga can be done as often as you’d like and as often as your body will allow. Those new to yoga should start slow with one or two or three sessions a week and slowly ramp up their practice as they are able to handle it. More experienced yogis might practice every day or have longer sessions on a schedule to allow for recovery. Yoga classes tend to include the same basic components each time, with slight variations on how much time is spent doing what — for example, warming up, stretching, or cooling down. A typical yoga class for beginners will last one hour to 1 1/2 hours, but class times can vary depending on multiple factors such as class level, type of class, preferences of the teacher, needs of the students, and sought-after objective.

The Range is Broad

If you’re considering heading to a class at a yoga studio or other fitness facility, it’s best to check with the location to find out how long the practice will be. Usually, it’s listed on the schedule, but a quick call will give you all the information you need.

A typical class in the West is designed to fit neatly into an hour, but yoga wasn’t always intended to be presented in such a package

A true Mysore-style Ashtanga class that involves you doing the practice at your own pace in a group environment may take 90 minutes, or last as long as 3 hours if you spend extra time honing specific postures.

A Bikram-style Hot class consists of 26 specific postures in a 105-degree room and lasts 90 minutes, but some studios (that are not “Bikram” licensed) may offer a hot class lasting just 60 minutes.

Do What You Can

Committing to practicing two or more times per week lasting an hour will progress your practice and provide you with benefits such as increased flexibility and mental clarity. But, if heading to a full-hour class, or one that’s longer, is impractical or creates more stress than benefit, look for other options.

No matter the level, yoga classes start with surrendering to the poses, usually by chanting or repeating a mantra such as Om collectively. During this preparation, an intention may be set silently as students focus more intently on breathing and movement. A sequence of gentler warm-up poses warms muscles and gives way to a challenging climax pose. Then students dial down through breathing exercises, meditation, and chanting or mantra repeating.

Shorter Classes

The class time can depend on the focus and goal of the class, says Calo. A relaxation and meditation class could be completed in as few as 20 minutes, while a more intense class could entail hours of chanting, breathing exercises and lectures. If you have just five minutes, you could squeeze in a pose and a counterpose or two, if, say, you are at your desk and need a quick stretch. But ideally, you want to attend a class of at least 45 minutes so you can comfortably warm the body up, stretch it out and then cool it down.

Longer Classes

You don’t necessarily have to be more advanced in your poses to take a longer class. For example, you could attend a two-hour class and still never have achieved a headstand. What longer classes require is more stamina. A longer class just means you have time to do more poses and may be able to go a little deeper with your practice. What’s key is to look at the level of the class, and for classes that are longer, be sure to hydrate.

IT’S GOOD TO MAKE YOGA A HEALTHY HABIT

Making a regular habit of yoga has so many health and wellness benefits and we don’t blame you for doing everything you can to reap every single one. And guess what? The number of times you hit your mat in a given week really does matter!

The truth is that the frequency with which you practice yoga does depend on how much experience you have. Like anything else, yoga requires patience early on, so be prepared to ease into a regular routine.

We get it — you want to jump in feet-first and become a 24/7 yogi…but you’ve gotta slow your roll.

Newbies to yoga workouts should plan to log two or three yoga sessions per week to start. This will ensure that your body gets used to the stretches and poses that you’ll be working on as you move forward in your journey.

 It depends on a bunch of different factors, including:

• The type of yoga you’re practicing.
• Whether you’re practicing at home or in a yoga studio.
• Your own personal goals and needs.

Typical Yoga Session Lengths

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to the typical yoga session length. Yoga classes can be of different lengths, depending on the type of yoga and the teacher’s preferences.

But speaking in general terms, you can expect yoga classes to last:

• 60 minutes for beginner and intermediate classes.
• 90 minutes for longer classes and certain styles. This length is often used for more advanced students or workshops.
• 120 minutes for a very long class, usually used for retreats or yoga teacher training

Hatha Yoga

classes of Hatha typically last 60 minutes but can be shorter or longer depending on the teacher.

Bikram or Hot Yoga

typically there are at least 90 minutes of Bikram and hot yoga.

Yin Yoga 

Yin yoga classes last around 75 minutes.

Vinyasa Yoga

This yoga is vary in length but are typically around 60 to 75 minutes long.

Ashtanga Yoga

classes of Ashtanga yoga are typically one hour long but can be shorter or longer depending on the teacher’s preference.

Iyengar Yoga

classes last 90 minutes of Iyengar yoga

Benefits of Long Yoga Classes

There are many benefits to attending long yoga classes.

Some of these benefits of longer classes include:

• More time to explore yoga poses and learn about their benefits.
• More time to build a rapport with your teacher, which can help you better understand the instructions.
• A gradual increase in intensity through the yoga sequences (particularly helpful for beginners).
• An opportunity to deepen your yoga practice, relax into the poses, and experience more of the body and mind benefits.
• More time to relax and rejuvenate during Savasana.