We get it: Yoga can be intimidating. Between the gravity-defying poses and the overwhelming number of class options, it’s easy to think yoga is just for a certain type of person. Truth is, yoga is for everyone and you don’t need elaborate props or gymnast-level flexibility to give it a try. In fact, you don’t do yoga because you’re flexible—you do it to become more flexible (in your body and your life).

Here, we’ve got everything you need to know about yoga for beginners—from the history and benefits to the different styles, foundational yoga poses, accessibility, and etiquette. Curious about how to pick the right class, proper breathing techniques, what it means to practice yoga respectfully, and more? We’ve got that, too. Consider this your go-to resource on yoga for beginners.

“Yoga” is a very old term, says Indu Arora, Ayurveda and yoga therapist and author of Yoga: Ancient Heritage, Tomorrow’s Vision. “Its ancient roots are found in the text called Vedas, which are about 3,000 to 5,000-year-old texts” that originated in India. The term “yoga” also appears in other Indian texts, like the Bhagavad Gita.

So what does “yoga” mean? Put simply, yoga is “compatibility,” says Arora. “If two things are compatible to each other, are in harmony with each other, it’s a great idea to put them together—that’s called yoga.”

That said, there are many different types of yoga. In certain philosophical texts, yoga is a state of mind that has nothing to do with physical postures and movements.

Original article: yogajournal.com/practice/beginners/yoga-for-beginners/