Yoga 101: Poses, Types, Health Benefits, and How to Get Started on the Mat

It’s hard to find a wellness trend that has enjoyed more sustained buzz than yoga.

The number of people practicing yoga in the United States grew more than 50 percent from 2012 to 2016, according to data. The survey found that people who practice yoga are also more likely to be active in other forms of exercise, like running or cycling, and that one in every three Americans said they were somewhat or very likely to practice yoga in the next 12 months.

No single reason is driving people to the millennia-old practice. Experts suspect it has something to do with yoga’s combination of physical and mental health benefits.

The heightened stress and fast pace of today’s world make yoga more relevant than ever, says Sally Sherwin, a yoga instructor at the Center for Integrative and Lifestyle Medicine at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, who is certified by Yoga Alliance, the world’s largest nonprofit yoga association that certifies teachers and schools.

The literal translation of the word “yoga,” which is from Sanskrit (recognized as the original language of yoga) is “union,” says Sherwin.

And that’s an apt way of describing yoga as we know it today, she says. “We define it as bringing together the mind and the body by use of the breath.”

Many people have come to know the physical benefits of yoga and think of it as a type of workout, says Sherwin. But yoga is way more than that. “It’s really an entire lifestyle; the postures are only one piece of it,” she says.

Yoga began in India and has been around for about 5,000 years, says Sherwin. “Originally it was taught one-on-one and only to men of the highest caste,” she says.

Traditionally, yoga is a system of fostering well-being on the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual levels.

Yoga is now not generally thought of as a set of religious beliefs. It can be practiced in a completely secular manner, and it’s practiced by people of all faith traditions, as well as people who are agnostic and atheist, according to the Yoga Alliance.

Yoga is thought to have first come to the United States at the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th. One critical moment was when Swami Vivekananda spoke at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893. Another milestone in yoga’s spread in the West was Paramahansa Yogananda’s Autobiography of a Yogi, published in 1946 and still read by many yoga students, Sherwin says. In the first half of the 20th century, it was more common for yoga instructors to travel from city to city to teach a yoga class or give a yoga lecture rather than teach in a studio (as is the case today).

Notably, changes in U.S. immigration policy starting in 1965 allowed more South Asian immigrants to come to America (including yogis from India, where the practice was more established).

By the 1970s, yoga studios and books could be found across the United States.

Yoga didn’t originate as an exercise program, but some styles have been adapted into workouts focused on the physical parts of the practice, says Edward Laskowski, MD, a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist and the former codirector of Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine in Rochester, Minnesota. “People have different goals coming into yoga. Some may do yoga for the contemplative or meditative part of it, and some people might want more of the exercise and activity part.”

Anything that elevates our heart rate for a consistent period of time is beneficial to overall fitness, he says. “The heart is a muscle, and when you challenge it by elevating your heart rate, you make it stronger,” says Dr. Laskowski.

Yoga probably isn’t in the same category of aerobic exercise as running or biking, says Laskowski. But the amount of aerobic benefit a person could get from yoga depends a lot on the style and pace of the type of yoga you’re doing, he says.

Yoga can also help build strength, Laskowski says. Certain positions and poses where a person must hold up part of their body weight will challenge a muscle and make it stronger, he says.

It’s a good way to get your resistance training in, because yoga builds functional strength (meaning you get stronger by using multiple joint and muscle groups together, rather than strengthening a specific muscle in isolation, as you might do in weight lifting). “That’s good, because that’s what we do in our daily life,” he says.

“The benefits of yoga are different for different people,” Laskowski says. “Overall, it has components that can help with flexibility, strength, balance, and stability.”

Research has shown it can also help with specific measures of health, like eating habits, weight loss and weight loss maintenance, and cardiovascular health.

A review looking at one year of recent research found that people who practiced yoga saw improvements across several measures of health, including anxiety, stress, body composition, blood pressure, inflammation, and metabolic markers in people with type 2 diabetes.

A meta-analysis found that yoga interventions helped middle-aged people with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or higher to lower their blood pressure. The benefits were greater when the yoga intervention included breathing techniques and meditation.

Another study found that yoga motivated nearly two-thirds of people to exercise more, and 40 percent of people to eat healthier.

There is also evidence that yoga may help people with certain health conditions and chronic diseases manage pain and other symptoms, as well as with overall quality of life.

Just note that there are some safety recommendations before you start, from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH).

The NCCIH emphasizes that although yoga is generally considered safe when performed properly under quality guidance, there can be a risk of injuries, such as sprains, strains, and joint injuries. Also, older adults may need to be cautious with certain types of yoga practices. For example, they should avoid headstands and intense classes. And in general, women who are pregnant and people with chronic health conditions (like cardiovascular disease, hypertension, balance issues, glaucoma, and joint and spine injuries) should talk to their doctor before starting and get personalized guidance from a yoga instructor to reduce the risk of harm.

Pregnant Women, People With Heart Conditions, and Some Others Should Check With Their Doctor Before Doing Hot Yoga

In general, hot yoga is safe as long as the person doing it is in good health, says Laskowski. If a person has certain preexisting chronic health conditions, previous heat injury, certain heart conditions, easily gets dehydrated, or is pregnant, it may not be safe to do hot yoga, he says.

“It’s always a good idea to check with your doctor if you’re going to try an activity that could stress your body,” says Laskowski.

Can Yoga Help Relieve Eczema or Atopic Dermatitis Symptoms?

Yoga lowers stress and inflammation, which could help manage eczema and other skin conditions.

Types of Yoga

There are about 20 major types of yoga, and certain kinds can appeal to certain individuals, says Laskowski. That’s because people often have different goals and reasons for wanting to do yoga, he says.

Depending on where you live and the size of the yoga community, you may find several types of yoga offered at studios near you. Here are a few of them.

Vinyasa Yoga

Vinyasa yoga is one of the most popular kinds of yoga in the United States, says Jen Fleming, a yoga teacher and manager at YogaWorks in Atlanta, who is certified by Yoga Alliance. Although vinyasa can be a set sequence of poses that never changes, as in ashtanga vinyasa, flow vinyasa classes will be different every time, she says.

Different styles of vinyasa yoga also include power yoga, Baptiste yoga, Jivamukti, and prana flow. These kinds of classes are among the most athletic and physically challenging, says Fleming.

It can be difficult to keep up with the pace of a vinyasa class if you don’t have yoga experience, adds Shala Worsley, a yoga instructor at Asheville Yoga Center in Asheville, North Carolina, who is certified by Yoga Alliance. “If you want to try vinyasa yoga and you don’t have much experience, try to find a studio that offers a beginner or a slow flow class,” says Worsley.

Hot Yoga

Hot yoga is yoga practiced in a hotter-than-normal room, and the style of yoga performed can vary from studio to studio, says Samantha Scupp, the founder and a teacher at Heatwise, a New York City–based hot yoga studio, who is certified by Yoga Alliance.

Here are a few things to know before you try it.

How Hot Is a Hot Yoga Class?

In hot yoga, the room is heated to temperatures that can range from the high 80s to 105 degrees F, on average.

The temperature can fluctuates depending on the studio (check the class description or call the individual studio to find out details), and the methods of heating can be different as well, says Scupp.

Along with conventional heating, some studios use a humidifier to make the room feel warmer. Some studios, like Heatwise, use infrared heat that comes from electric heat panels that are placed on the ceiling or around the room, which can feel more natural than forced-air heat, she says. The size of the room, the weather outside, and how packed the class is can all be factors in how hot the room gets, Scupp says.

Not All Hot Yoga Classes Are the Same

Yoga done in a hot environment is called “hot yoga.” Hot yoga became popular in the 1970s with a specific style called Bikram yoga, and heat is now used to enhance a variety of yoga styles.

Vinyasa yoga or flow-type yoga practiced in a heated studio can also be called hot yoga. It would be a good idea to have some yoga experience before you step into a hot yoga class, says Scupp. Depending on the studio, there may be a beginner level course offered.

Hatha Yoga

Hatha yoga (pronounced HAH-ta, not -tha) encompasses several types of yoga, including ashtanga, vinyasa, and power yoga. Hatha classes tend to be slower-paced than vinyasa classes, and may not necessarily flow from pose to pose, says Fleming. Poses are typically held for several breaths before another pose begins. What is consistent across different types of hatha yoga is that the physical poses and postures are meant to be linked to your breathing patterns.

Ashtanga Yoga

Ashtanga yoga is a physically demanding type of yoga that moves quickly from pose to pose. Unlike flow or vinyasa yoga, there are set sequences that are meant to be performed in a specific order. Ashtanga yoga can be practiced in a teacher-led class or in a Mysore format. Mysore is self-guided with an instructor present but not leading the class. In a Mysore format, students are expected to know the sequence and timing of the poses from memory, Fleming explains.

Kundalini Yoga

Kundalini yoga combines postures, breathing, meditation, and the chanting of mantras.

Traditionally, kundalini yoga is meant to “awaken” the different energies inside each of us and heighten consciousness.

Yin Yoga

Yin yoga is a style in which there’s no flowing from pose to pose. You stay mostly seated on the floor or lying on your back or belly, Fleming says.

It’s more passive and focuses on stretching. And the poses are held longer than in other types of yoga, says Fleming. “This kind of stretching can be good for the joints in a different way than active stretching,” says Fleming.

Yoga Nidra

Yoga nidra is more of a meditation than a pose-filled yoga class.

Students lie on their backs (a blanket or bolster can be used to add comfort) as the teacher guides them through focusing on and relaxing different parts of the body. People who practice yoga nidra are encouraged to “let go” and surrender to total relaxation and peace. It can be as relaxing and restorative as actual sleep, says Fleming.

Basic Yoga Poses Everyone Should Know

The more you practice yoga, the more yoga poses and postures you’ll likely learn. But everyone starts with some of the same basic poses, including a few you may have already heard of, such as Cat-Cow, Downward-Facing Dog, and Child’s Pose. As you’re getting started, it’s a good idea to learn more about these beginner poses, which can offer big benefits, like easing back pain, stretching your hips, and improving balance.

There’s a misconception among some that props are designed for beginners or people who “aren’t good at yoga.” That couldn’t be further from the truth. Props are used by newbies and seasoned yogis alike for all sorts of reasons, from comfort to deepening stretches to making a pose safer if you have an injury or limitation, says Carol Krucoff, an instructor certified by the International Association of Yoga Therapists and Yoga Alliance, and the author of Yoga Sparks: 108 Easy Practices for Stress Relief in a Minute or Less.

Props can be an equalizer to help make poses accessible to people of all body types, says Krucoff. Some people have shorter arms or a longer torso and a block or a yoga strap can help them get into a pose safely, she says.

Props can also be an important component of class, as in a chair yoga class, in which most (if not all) seated poses are performed in a chair rather than on the floor, says Krucoff.

New to yoga? Here’s what you need to know before you try out a class.

Check out the class ahead of time. Observe a class and interview the teacher if possible, says Judi Bar, lead yoga therapist and yoga program manager at Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Integrative and Lifestyle Medicine, who is certified by the International Association of Yoga Therapists and Yoga Alliance. Even if the class is labeled beginner, you may want to investigate further, she says. It may be that the class is beginner level but not intended to be the first class someone ever takes. “Sometimes beginner classes are designed for younger or fitter people or even people with a little yoga experience,” says Bar. If possible, talk to the instructor or watch a portion or all of the class before you take it.
Try a slower-moving class or one designed for beginners. Make sure the teacher encourages people to listen to their body. “You should feel supported in just doing what you feel comfortable doing on any given day,” says Bar. You don’t want a class that feels like a competition, especially if you’re a beginner, she says.
Communicate with the instructor. Introduce yourself to the instructor before class starts and let him or her know it’s your first class. If you have any injuries or chronic conditions, you should let your instructor know that too, says Laskowski. “They have training to help you modify the poses to help prevent injury,” he says.
Don’t sweat the small stuff. Remember, everyone was a beginner at some point. “It doesn’t have to be complicated; you don’t have to have special clothing or props; it can be a very simple practice,” says Sherwin. “Yoga is about finding peace in the moment,” she adds.

There are a few things to keep in mind as you begin your search for a yoga class that fits your schedule and your needs.

Try to find a studio or class that’s convenient to get to from your home or work, says Bar. “You don’t want getting to yoga class to be a source of stress,” she says.
An online search could be a good way to see what’s in your area, as well as to find out what other people think of the studio, says Stephanie Keach, cofounder of Asheville Yoga Center in Asheville, North Carolina, who is certified by Yoga Alliance.
Observe and try different classes, says Krucoff. There are many, many styles of yoga, and lots of studios allow students to have their first class free, she says.
Find a community of like-minded people where you feel comfortable and supported, says Krucoff.
Make sure that the teacher is well-trained and qualified, says Krucoff. Check out the credentials and what kind of training is required at the studio, she suggests. “Having a teacher who is well-trained is important, especially if you have physical limitations or a chronic health condition,” says Krucoff.
Don’t be afraid to experiment. “Ideally, you should try out a few different teachers and styles,” says Keach.
Be consistent. Once you find a teacher or class that you love, commit to it, says Keach. “Stick with it and attend class a few times a week,” she says. “That’s when the magic happens!”

Yoga is a traditional system for fostering physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Originating in India, yoga has become something that many people use as part of an exercise regime, as the various poses, holds, and movements raise your heart rate and build strength in the muscles. Types of yoga include vinyasa, hatha, Ashtanga, and hot yoga. Yoga has several health benefits. Since it helps lower stress, it can be a great complementary treatment method for several chronic diseases and mental health conditions.

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