Yoga has been around for thousands of years and has seen increasing popularity in the Western world over the past few decades. It is an ancient practice that involves physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation. It has numerous benefits for the body and mind, and can improve overall health and well-being. There are also numerous types of yoga to choose from, which helps you determine which one is best for you.

Although there are some misconceptions around yoga—like you have to be flexible to do it (trust me, you don’t)—here are 10 of the best benefits practicing yoga can bring to your life.

If you’ve been to a yoga class, there’s a good chance you’ve heard your teacher say something like “inhale to lift, exhale to fold.” Maybe you’ve been guided through a deep sigh, or a few moments of stillness where the only instruction was to breathe. That’s pranayama in action — even if you didn’t realize it.

Pranayama is the yogic practice of intentional breathwork, and while it might sound intimidating, at its heart it’s just learning how to use the breath you already have. In fact, it’s one of the most powerful tools yoga offers — not just for your practice on the mat, but for your life beyond it.

Over the centuries, various styles of yoga have developed, each with its unique characteristics and approaches. It can be a little intimidating trying to figure out what’s what and what works best for you, so let’s talk a little about the types of yoga, how long they’ve been around, who’s to credit, and how their popularity compares to the others.

If you’ve been practicing yoga for an extended period of time, it’s likely you’ve heard at least some mention of the Eight Limbs of Yoga. Depending on where you practice or who your teacher is, you may have also even learned one or two of them. 

Whether you know what they are or not, here’s a quick rundown.

Meditation is a powerful tool that can help you relax, reduce stress, and improve your overall well-being.

That said, a lot of people find meditation challenging because they struggle to focus. Maybe you think if your mind wanders or if you have any thoughts at all, you’re doing it wrong. Maybe you feel weird having an empty mind. Maybe you have a hard time sitting still, or any other number of reasons you may deter from meditation.

If you're one of those people, never fear, you are far from alone. If you’d like to get into meditation and just aren’t quite sure how, here are some tips to help you get the most out of your practice.

Butterfly is one of those poses that looks simple on the outside, but reveals endless depth the longer you sit with it. In yin yoga, it’s often a baseline posture — accessible, grounding, and quietly powerful. In a more active practice, it becomes a forward fold that targets the hips and spine. Either way, Butterfly is a reminder that strength isn’t always about force; sometimes it’s about surrender.

Warrior II expands on what Warrior I began. If Warrior I is the first step forward, Warrior II is the widening of your stance — the moment where you claim more space and ground yourself in unwavering presence. This pose teaches you to open in two directions at once, stretching your awareness and balance across a wider field.

Warrior I is the entry point to the entire Warrior’s Path. When you step into this pose, you’re not just lunging — you’re declaring your presence. This is the stance of focus, of intention, of stepping forward even when the ground beneath you feels uncertain. Warrior I trains you to meet resistance head-on and teaches you that balance doesn’t come from rigidity, but from alignment and breath.

Warrior III is the leap — the transformation of grounding into flight. If Warrior I is the step and Warrior II is the stance, Warrior III is the soaring strike forward. This pose challenges you to balance strength and surrender, stability and expansion. It strips away the extra, leaving only precision, focus, and trust in your own edge.