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Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Yoga

By , SparkPeople Blogger
September is National Yoga Month! Time to unroll our mats, loosen up and chill out.

If you've never tried yoga, this is a great time to check out a class. Throughout the month, studios across the country are offering even more free classes than usual. (Many studios also offer at least one free or donation-based class a week on a regular basis.)


In honor of National Yoga Month, we've put together a list of Everything* You'll Ever Need to Know about Yoga. From easy at-home workouts for all levels to your most-asked questions about yoga and what to know before you step foot in your first class, this roundup of our best blogs, articles, and exercises is, well, everything you'll ever need to know about yoga!

Before You Begin: Answers to Your Most-Asked Questions about Yoga

10 Tips to Stay Safe and Comfortable in a Hot Yoga Class
 
11 Tips to Help You Feel at Ease at Your First Yoga Class
 
Does Yoga Count as Cardio?
 
''I Tried Hot Yoga''
 
I'm Changing the Image of Yoga, One Pose and One Student at a Time
 
What's the Difference Between Yoga and Pilates?
 
Which Type of Yoga is Right for You?
 
You Asked: How Do I Breathe in Yoga?
 

Why Yoga Works: Health Benefits and Side Effects

   19 Reasons Why You Need Yoga in Your Life
 
How Yoga Helps Relieve Pain
 
Yoga and You'll Go to Sleep
 
 
 

Easy At-Home Yoga Workouts
 

 
10 Yoga Poses to Strengthen and Stretch
 
5 Exercises that Sculpt, Strengthen & Soothe Back Pain
 
5 Minutes to Less Stress
 
5 Yoga Poses to Help You Rest Better
 
7 Easy Ways to Relax on the Job (without Getting Fired)
 
8 Seated Yoga Poses You Can Do from a Chair
 
Kneehab: 5 Yoga-Inspired Moves to Tune Up Your Knees
 
The 13 Best Yoga Poses for Runners
 
Yoga Stretches for the Feet and Ankles
 
 

A Yoga Teacher's Best Tips and Gear Recommendations

6 Tips for Finding Peace and Staying Balanced
 
7 Yoga Essentials for Beginners
 
Fighting the Ego and Seeing the Bigger Picture
 
What Really Matters in Your Yoga Practice
 
Your 12 Most Embarrassing Yoga Questions Answered
 
 

At-Home Practice Options

DVDs:

Beginners (New to Exercise)
  HeavyWeight Yoga with Abby Lentz (We love her!)
HeavyWeight Yoga 2
  Rodney Yee's Yoga for Beginners
  Complete Yoga Fitness Beginners with Lilias Folan, the Cincinnati-based grande dame of yoga
Beginners (New to Yoga but Not Exercise)
  Shiva Rea - Flow Yoga for Beginners
  Yoga Zone beginners pack
Intermediate/Advanced :
  Crunch: Yoga Body Sculpt
  Ashtanga Yoga: The Primary Series
  Yoga Shakti with Shiva Rea
  Tara Stiles This is Yoga: 4 DVD Set
 
 
 
Books:



Beginners:
  Yoga Journal's Yoga Basics: The Essential Beginner's Guide to Yoga For a Lifetime of Health and Fitness
Intermediate/Advanced:
  The Complete Book of Vinyasa Yoga
  Yin Yoga by Paul Grilley
  Ashtanga Yoga: The Practice Manual: An Illustrated Guide to Personal Practice by David Swenson
 
Will you participate in National Yoga Month? Have you taken advantage of a free class in your area? Do you have a question about yoga that you'd like me to answer?

*Disclaimer: Everything=hyperbole. In yoga, as with anything in life, you never stop learning!

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