If you’ve taken yoga, then your head is probably swimming with yoga mats, yoga clothes, yoga class schedules and yoga poses. While relatively new in the West, yoga has taken on a popularity that has changed the face of exercise across the country. Where high-impact aerobics and fast moving classes once reigned, now you’ll find people chanting and OMing while slowly stretching their bodies and relaxing their minds.

What is Yoga?

Yoga is made up of a series of yoga postures called ‘asanas’. These asanas, or positions, will vary depending on the type of yoga you are taking and your individual teacher. The word yoga means to ‘to yoke or unite’ and although yoga is not religious in nature, it stems from a Hindu spiritual tradition that is used to unite mind and body, bringing one into a harmonious balance that awakens one’s spiritual nature and brings one closer to enlightenment.

Yoga takes on a different meaning for each person who experiences it. Some would tell you that yoga is a form of exercise. Some may say that yoga is a series of gentle stretching, while others feel it is a form of moving meditation. Many people feel that yoga has helped their physical issues such as back pain or a shoulder injury, and still others swear by its ability to bring one into peace by awakening one’s consciousness.

Yoga Classes

Yoga classes come in all kinds. If you choose to take a yoga class at a gym, you may have a low-impact yoga class that focuses on exercise of the body. If you take a yoga class at yoga studio, you may find it decorated with Buddhas and other serene pieces of artwork, with a focus on peace and relaxation. Some classes are very gentle and focus on stretching, while others are more difficult and high-energy, such as power yoga. Some yoga classes, depending upon the teacher and her background, may have new age music, chanting, meditation and even a time for reading classic yogi texts and discussing them.

Each yoga class is different. If you have an idea of what type of class you are looking for, you may want to start by visiting a few yoga studios and asking questions about their classes and teachers. Many studios offer free classes to first time visitors to allow you to try them before spending money or making a commitment.