Yoga Collective

An independent guide to yoga

Learn yoga slowly, and learn it well.

Clear, carefully researched explanations of where yoga comes from, how each pose works in the body, and how to build a practice that lasts. No ads, no products, no hype.

Start with the basics Browse the pose library
A woman sitting quietly on a yoga mat in a bright, empty studio

Start here

New to yoga? Read these three in order.

Most people start in the middle, with a random class or video. You'll get further if you first understand what yoga is, then learn how a class works, then practice a little at home each week.

  1. Understand the practice

    Yoga is older and broader than a workout. A short introduction to its meaning, its main paths and the myths that put people off.

    What is yoga?

  2. Take your first class

    What to wear, how a class is structured, the etiquette nobody explains, and how to choose a style that suits your body.

    Your first class

  3. Practice at home

    Three complete routines of 10, 20 and 45 minutes, and a simple way to plan your own sessions once the basics feel familiar.

    Practicing at home

The pose library

45 poses, each with a full field card.

Every pose has its Sanskrit name and pronunciation, a difficulty level, how long to hold it in breaths, step-by-step cues, common mistakes and when to skip it.

8 posesStanding posesMountain, the warriors, triangle and chair. The foundation for strength, stability and alignment. 8 posesSeated poses & forward foldsQuieter shapes for hips, hamstrings and the spine, and for sitting comfortably in meditation. 7 posesBalance posesFrom tree pose to crow. Train focus, ankle strength and the small stabilizing muscles. 8 posesBackbendsCobra to wheel, with the warm-ups and counterposes that keep the lower back comfortable. 7 posesInversionsStart with downward dog and legs up the wall. Progress to the full inversions with a teacher. 7 posesRestorative posesFully supported shapes held for minutes, with prop setups using bolsters, blankets and blocks.

yogaś citta-vṛtti-nirodhaḥ

Yoga Sutra 1.2 · Patanjali

Yoga is the settling of the fluctuations of the mind.

Patanjali's definition, compiled around the early centuries CE, says nothing about flexibility. The postures are one of eight parts of a much larger practice. Read about the eight limbs.

Philosophy

The eight limbs of yoga

Patanjali describes yoga as eight practices, from how we treat others to complete absorption in meditation. Postures come third.

  1. YamaEthical restraints in how we treat others
  2. NiyamaPersonal observances and self-discipline
  3. AsanaA steady, comfortable seat; today, the postures
  4. PranayamaRegulation and extension of the breath
  5. PratyaharaDrawing attention in from the senses
  6. DharanaConcentration on a single point
  7. DhyanaSustained, unbroken meditation
  8. SamadhiComplete absorption; the goal of the path

Beyond the mat

Breath, mind and body

How to breathe, how to sit, what the research actually shows, and how to keep your joints happy for decades of practice.

Breath & MindBreathworkSix pranayama techniques and an interactive breath pacer you can use right now. Breath & MindMeditationSix simple methods, how to handle a wandering mind, and a seven-day starter plan. Body & HealthBenefits of yogaWhat studies suggest about back pain, stress, sleep and balance, and where the evidence is thin. Body & HealthAnatomy & alignmentWhy the same pose looks different on every body, and the principles behind good alignment. Body & HealthPracticing safelyCommon injuries and how to avoid them, plus guidance for pregnancy and health conditions. LearnStyles of yogaHatha, Vinyasa, Iyengar, Yin and more, compared by pace, intensity and who they suit.

Heard a word in class you didn't know?

The glossary defines more than 90 Sanskrit terms, from ahimsa to ujjayi, with pronunciations. For everything else, try the questions and answers.

Open the glossary Read the Q&A