5 Yoga Poses for Beginners and Their Benefits

1. Tree Pose

Tree pose is an excellent introduction to balancing postures. If you feel yourself beginning to topple, you can step out of it easily.

2. Standing Pose

The critical thing to remember in Warrior I is that the hips face forward. Think of your hip points as headlights—they should be roughly parallel with the front of your mat.

3. Raised Hands Pose

Built upon the foundation of Mountain pose, Urdhva Hastasana requires you to continue to root into the ground with your legs while reaching for the sky with your arms.

4. Head to Knee Pose

Forward bends can be tricky for anyone with tight hamstrings (i.e., many people). Janu Sirsasana is more accessible because you only stretch one leg at a time.

5. Cobra Pose

While a full cobra with straight arms offers a deeper backbend, you'll build more back strength by doing low Cobras in which you lift your chest without pressing into your hands.