Yoga Mat and Equipment

Yoga doesn’t require a large commitment of equipment and clothing. Some people wear leotards; others wear baggy clothes; still others go without clothing altogether (an option if you’re working out at home, but you won’t find many clothing-optional classes). Read more

Taking Yoga Classes

Most health clubs offer yoga classes at no additional charge. You can find a wider variety of styles and techniques at yoga-only studios, which charge $8 to $25 per class. You’ll likely also find classes aimed at different experience levels.

If you’re a yoga novice, make sure that you take a beginning class, and don’t try to keep up with anyone else.

Yoga can be extremely demanding, both in terms of flexibility and strength. Even if you can bench-press a heavy load in the gym, you may find yourself lacking the strength to hold a yoga pose for a minute. Yoga requires a different type of strength than weight lifting does. Read more

Basic Yoga Styles

There are many forms of yoga. Most include the same fundamental poses but differ in terms of how quickly you move, how long you hold each pose, how much breathing is emphasized, and how much of a spiritual aspect there is.

Some styles offer more modifications to the really bendy and twisty moves, so they’re more accessible to new exercisers and the flexibility-challenged.

Others are for people who can already touch their toes with their tongue. If you find that you dig yoga, experiment with some of the different styles. You may find you like one more than the others. Read more

Benefits of Yoga

We tend to view exercise as way to improve our body — to strengthen our heart, tone our muscles, and make our joints more flexible. Only in the last ten years or so has the mainstream fitness community come to accept what many other cultures have known for thousands of years: Exercise can also be good for your mind.

This realization has spawned a new fitness catchphrase, mind-body exercise, and Yoga is at the forefront. Read more

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