by Brandi Fleeks

Created on: August 02, 2009

Beginning a yoga practice comes with a variety of benefits. Yogis enjoy feeling energized while decreasing their stress levels. They enjoy the benefits of perfect posture, and increased flexibility all while gaining muscle strength and a toned physique.

Those new to yoga may find it intimidating, trying to bend and stretch into positions that only professional contortionists can get into, but this is not the purpose of yoga, and should not be a hindrance.

When starting a new yoga practice one should evaluate what results s/he would like to receive from his/her practice and the choices in the types of practice available to him/her. Some smaller areas have limited practice options while larger areas are inundated with different practice styles and studios.

There are over 20 different styles of yoga and from Hatha to Bikram, Vinayasa to Ashtanga, each style has is specific benefits, poses, sequences, and strength levels. Figuring out which practice will be of greater benefit for your needs is the hardest part. A good resource for finding out about what style might suit a yoga newbie is, Yoga Journal magazine. Fit Yoga is also a resource that can aid in finding the right style for you.

After finding a suitable style and locating a place to practice a beginner yogi will want to look into buying a yoga mat and appropriate clothes for practicing yoga. Mats are available in just about any local discount store. Target, Wal-Mart, K-mart and even Marshalls, TJ Maxx and Ross all sell affordable yoga mats. There are more expensive mats sold on the yoga based websites and sporting goods stores also carry them. Finding your yoga mat should be simple, and stress-free. They come in a variety of colors and some are thicker than others, it is up to the buyer to determine what s/he is comfortable with.

Since most studios and gyms have extra props such as mats, blocks and belts, you might want to wait until after your first session before heading to the store. This will make it easier to know what you're looking for and you can always ask the instructor for her opinion of what props are more suitable for your abilities.

Buying clothing for yoga should not take up too much time either. Simplicity is the key for dressing for yoga, lycra-spandex bottoms and tops are common wear for practicing yoga. Cotton based clothes that are easy to move in are recommended as well as they allow the skin to breathe and should you choose Bikram or "hot" yoga, you will want something that can

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