The library · reviewed by a teacher
Learn yoga
Poses, philosophy, stretches, meditation and practical guides, written plainly and reviewed by Joahnna Lee.
Start with the poses if you want to practise, the philosophy pages if you want to know what the words in class mean, and the guides if you are choosing a style or a studio. Every page gives the steps first and the safety notes up front.
Where to begin
New to yoga? Read yoga for beginners first, then learn a handful of beginner poses. When you are ready for a class, the studio directory lists published rates by city.
Want one pose a day? The yoga pose of the day picks one from the library each morning, with a printable card. Shopping for props? The yoga ball size chart matches a ball to your height.
Ready to practise? The printable yoga sequences string the poses together with hold times.
Pregnancy, postpartum and workplace yoga live on joahnnalee.com, where they are written for those stages.
How the library fits together
The sections are built to be read side by side. A pose page gives the English and Sanskrit names, numbered steps, modifications and common mistakes for one shape. The stretches and yoga-based exercises group several moves around one area or goal, with hold times or repetitions. The printable sequences string poses into short routines you can follow at home. The philosophy pages explain the words you hear in class, from namaste to the eight limbs, and the breath and meditation guides cover the quiet side of practice.
The guides answer the practical questions: which style to choose, what to wear, what a class costs in Manila, and how ClassPass works here. Yoga for pages look at specific groups and situations, such as runners, seniors and sleep, and are plain about what yoga can and cannot do.
Three ways to use it
Preparing for a first class. Read what to expect at your first yoga class, learn the sun salutation and downward dog, and take the style quiz to pick a class type.
Practising at home. Choose one of the printable sequences, open each pose page once to check the steps, then follow the sequence card for a week or two before changing it. For a day-by-day plan, the yoga programs start with a 4-week beginner program and a 30-day yoga challenge.
Following up after class. When a teacher names a pose or a word you did not catch, look it up here: the Sanskrit yoga glossary lists the common terms, and each pose page lists its Sanskrit name.
Questions
Is the yoga library a substitute for taking classes?
No. It is a reference to read before and after class and a guide for short home practice. A teacher can see your alignment and adjust a pose for your body in a way a page cannot, so most people get the most from using both.
Where are the safety notes on each library page?
Each pose page has notes on pregnancy and postpartum, and pages that touch pain, heat or inversions carry a short safety box. Stop anything that causes sharp pain, numbness or tingling, and see a doctor or physio for an injury.
How do you find a pose if you only know its Sanskrit name?
Start with the Sanskrit yoga glossary, which lists common pose names and class words with their English meaning. Each pose page also gives both names, so once you know the English name you can go straight to it.
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