Yoga 101: History, Philosophy, Sanskrit, and More - Yoga Journal

Foundations

Expand the foundation of your yoga practice and deepen your knowledge of yoga’s philosophy, history, Sanskrit terminology, wisdom, and more. Consider this yoga 101, for beginner to advanced practitioners, with tools and insights to grow your practice and enhance your mind-body-spirit connection like never before.

Sanskrit

A Sanskrit Glossary For Anyone Who Practices Yoga

Rina Deshpande

Foundations

13 Sanskrit Mantras to Memorize

Yelena Moroz Alpert

Sanskrit

Should Yoga Teachers Use Sanskrit?

Rina Deshpande

8 Limbs of Yoga

Get to Know the 8 Limbs of Yoga

Mara Carrico

Philosophy

Everything You Need to Know About the Yamas and Niyamas

Kate Siber

Foundations

Bhagavad Gita : The Timeless First Book of Yoga

Stefanie Syman

Latest in Foundations

Philosophy

10 Basic Teachings of Yoga Philosophy Explained—And Applied to Contemporary Life

Ancient texts. Contemporary meanings.

Judith Hanson Lasater

Insights Into Overcoming Fear, According to a 20th Century Sage

Ramesh S. Balsekar

How to Quiet Your Mind, According to Yoga

Judith Hanson Lasater

This Underrated Aspect of Yoga Can Seriously Deepen Your Practice

Fernando Pagés Ruiz

This Breathing Technique Can Help You Calm Nerves and Quiet Emotions

Arthur Kilmurray

What It Actually Means to Practice Yoga

Judith Hanson Lasater

I Convinced My Girlfriend to Try Yoga for One Week. Here’s What Happened.

RYAN PEACOCK

5 Research-Backed Reasons You Should Change Up Your Yoga Practice

Rebecca Tolin

How to See Yourself for Who You Truly Are

Sally Kempton

8 Warming Winter Yoga Poses to Stoke Your Inner Fire

Leah Cullis

10 Essential Yoga Poses for Your Strongest Arms Yet

Leah Cullis

Want Strong Glutes? You Need These 9 Strengthening Exercises.

Leah Cullis

Here’s How to Let Go of the Need to Control Everything in Life

Sally Kempton

What’s the Difference Between Breathing and Pranayama?

Judith Hanson Lasater

What Is Karma Yoga? Here’s Why Your Attitude Around Your Practice Matters.

Judith Hanson Lasater

Hatha Yoga as Meditation

Judith Hanson Lasater

This Yoga Teaching Transforms Your Struggles Into Strength

Jivana Heyman

Come to Your Senses

Shiva Rea

The Great Chakra Controversy

Dio Urmilla Neff

Women’s Spirituality: An Interview with Charlene Spretnak

Catherine Maclay

Common Obstacles to Spiritual Growth

Judith Hanson Lasater

A Zen Perspective on Feminism

Elizabeth Kent

Yoga: A Living Philosophy

Judith Hanson Lasater

Seeing What Is…and Going Beyond It

Elmer Brunsman Jr.

14 Things We Constantly Have to Explain to People Who Don’t Do Yoga

Calin Van Paris

This Book Is a Manual For Incorporating Yoga Into Your Everyday Life

Susanna Barkataki

20 Essential Yoga Books, As Recommended by Experts

YJ Editors

Everything You Need to Know About Hot Yoga Skin Care

Calin Van Paris

Everything You Need to Know About Hot Yoga Hair Care

Calin Van Paris

What Do Your Aura Colors Mean? Here’s What to Know.

Calin Van Paris

These 11 Self-Help Books Prove the Genre is Anything But Cringe

YJ Editors

Feeling Emotionally Exhausted? This Yoga Practice Can Help Ease the Burden.

Sarah Ezrin

How to Start a Yoga Study Group

Steve Price

What Exactly Are Bandhas in Yoga?

Georgina Berbari

13 Chair Yoga Poses You Can Do Anywhere

Tamara Y. Jeffries

A Home Yoga Practice for Beginners

Richard Rosen

What Exactly Is a Kundalini Awakening?

Jennifer Davis-Flynn

Nora Isaacs

Why Yoga Is For Everyone | A Celebration of National Yoga Month

YJ Editors

11 Cues for Ujjayi Breath That You’ve Probably Never Heard Before

Derek Doritis

Do You Seek Others’ Approval More Than Your Own? Here’s How to Be Your Authentic Self.

Kelley Kosow

7 Things We’ve Been Getting Wrong About The Chakras

Indu Arora

Why Pain In Yoga Isn’t Always A Bad Thing

Pranidhi Varshney

Yoga Poses to Help You Balance Your Chakras

YJ Editors

The Yoga Teacher Who Brought Yoga to Our Living Rooms Decades Before Online Yoga Was a Thing

YJ Editors

Turn Difficult Emotions Into Feelings You Can Use

Leah Chyten

Practicing This Yoga Principle Made My Marriage and Family Stronger

Susanna Barkataki

Ask the Teacher: Deep Breathing Makes Me Panic. What Can I Do?

Sarah Powers

10 Myths About People Who Practice Yoga

Erin Motz

A Beginner’s Guide to the Yamas and Niyamas

Hillari Dowdle

Kate Siber

A Quieting Yin Yoga Practice for Longer, Darker, More Challenging Days

Danielle March

YJ Editors

How Exactly Do You Practice Hand Mudras?

Tamara Y. Jeffries

The Secret to Discovering Your Destiny

Rina Deshpande

Is Your Yoga Practice Stealing From Religion?

Tamara Y. Jeffries

5 Yoga Poses You Can Do While Hanging Out With Your Baby

Sarah Ezrin

The Meaning of Asteya: Knowing When Enough Is Enough

Susanna Barkataki

My Take on Cultural Appropriation and Yoga

Pranidhi Varshney

8 Poses That Can Help You Get Honest About Your Practice

Tamara Y. Jeffries

How to Stay Safe While Practicing Hot Yoga

Shari Waxman

YJ Editors

I Learned to Taste the Fruits of Truthfulness

Susanna Barkataki

What Is Intersectionality in Yoga and Why Does It Matter?

Anusha Wijeyakumar and Melanie Klein

Want to Get Yoga’s Life-Changing Benefits? The Key is Not What You Expect

Rina Deshpande

I Was A Skeptic of Chakra Balancing…And Then I Tried It

Erin Skarda

There’s Nothing Basic About These “Beginner” Yoga Poses

Donna Raskin

“I Thought I Was Just Keeping a Journal. I Was Actually Tapping Into My Higher Consciousness.”

Erinne Magee

3 Styles of Yoga You May Not Have Tried (What Are You Waiting For?!)

Jennifer Davis-Flynn

School Children in India Taught Me About Living the Principle of Ahimsa

Susanna Barkataki

Who’s Who in “The Future of Yoga”?

YJ Editors

Want to Ease Anxiety? Tell Yourself a Different Story and Invite in the Light

YJ Editors

The Ancient Practice of Sauca (and Why It’s Still Relevant Today)

Rina Deshpande

15 Health Benefits of Yoga For Aging Adults That Apply to All of Us

Sage Rountree

This Poem By Allen Ginsberg Is a Reminder of the Beauty of Life

As told to Elizabeth Marglin

When You Want to Sit It Out, Try This Chair Yoga Practice

YJ Editors

This Yoga Sequence Is Perfect for Days When Nothing Seems to Go Your Way

Claire Mark

The Power of Sound

Brooklyn R. White

4 Practices to Calm Your Busy Brain

Anna Adami

NSDR Is the Trendy Practice Right Now. But Is It Better Than Yoga Nidra?

Ziba Kashef

A Yin Yoga Sequence to Create Balance During Spring

Tamika Caston-Miller

What Do You Do When a Pose Name Is Problematic?

Tamara Y. Jeffries

This Slow Yoga Practice Will Help You Unwind—No Standing Required

Miriam Indries

How Yoga Helped Me Build Community as an Immigrant

Lorena Saavedra Smith

1
2
3
4
…
14
15
16
17

Next