Yoga for beginners begins with basic information regarding the discipline of yoga. Yoga is a discipline in which the goal is to attain oneness with the universe or Supreme Being through breathing. This one breath principle practices a one breath concept that unionizes the individual with those around, the universe and the Supreme Creator.

The word yoga literally means union. Practicing yoga focuses on a freeing of the spirit and mind of the individual in order to enhance the practice of union with God through the one breathe. Instruction of yoga for beginners also incorporates a series of physical movements. These movements are practiced so that the body is cleansed and strengthened for extended times devoted for meditation.

Benefits

Yoga for beginners offers many benefits to the new devotee. In addition to being a discipline that will bring mobility and strength to the human body, there are some deeper physical, mental and spiritual benefits. Some of those benefits include sharpening the mind, becoming more attuned to various bodily systems functioning within the body, anti-aging of the blood vessels and an increase in the range of motion.

Selection of Yoga Style

Yoga for beginners starts with a hard decision. That decision requires a choice as to what style of yoga to practice. There are eight basic styles of yoga to consider. Specifically those styles include Bhakti, Karma, Jnana, Raja, Mantra, Laya, Hatha and Tantra Yoga.

With so many choices, it is clear that yoga for beginners can be a bit on the confusing side. To dispel this confusion it is best for the beginner to investigate each of the various forms of yoga and choose for themselves what the best style of yoga to practice is. The various styles of yoga have the same goal of oneness, however each has a variation. This variation should be matched with the beginner's comfort level. For example, Hatha yoga is the most basic of style and may be the starting practice point of yoga for beginners.

Basic Poses

There are many basic poses associated with yoga for beginners. Three of those basic poses include the sun salutation, the shoulder stand and the corpse pose.

The sun salutation is a yoga routine that combines various yoga postures, practice of breathing, sunbathing and petition. These 12 positions are coordinated in motion and incorporate the proper rhythms of breathing.

The shoulder stand is also a basic routine with yoga for beginners. With this pose it is important not to allow the look of the pose to frighten you and prevent your mastering of the critical cornerstone to practicing yoga.

The third pose is the corpse pose and is an unwinding pose. This particular pose is generally done at some point during your routine and as the last pose of your yoga routine. As the name implies, simply lie on your back and simulate a dead body. It is a method of simply relaxing every part of your body and is generally done for a 15 minute time period.