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Completely restructured to focus more on the how-to components of yoga, this step-by-step guide replaces photos with all-new two-color line illustrations that not only show readers what the various yoga postures look like, but how to get in and out of them easily and painlessly. Non- intimidating and easy-to-follow exercises show readers just how fun and relaxing yoga can be.

Is it a starting point for newcomers?

The description calls the exercises “non-intimidating and easy-to-follow”, and says they show how fun and relaxing yoga can be.

Who is behind The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Yoga?

The book is credited to Joan Budilovsky in the title.

What is inside the book?

It replaces photos with all-new two-color line illustrations that show what the postures look like and how to get in and out of them “easily and painlessly”.

What does The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Yoga cover?

The description presents it as a restructured, step-by-step guide that focuses on the how-to side of yoga.

Everything above comes from the book description on its Amazon page.

How much can you learn about yoga from a book?

A book is a good place to meet the vocabulary, the shapes of the poses and the idea behind each movement. Line drawings and step-by-step instructions can show you where to place hands and feet, and you can read at your own pace. What a page cannot do is watch you. The NCCIH yoga and safety page says that learning yoga without supervision has been associated with increased risks, and it recommends practising under a qualified instructor.

A sensible approach is to read first, try each pose slowly and stop at the first sign of strain. Breathing is as important as shape: the Harvard Medical School yoga article describes hatha-style classes as opening with breathing exercises, moving through postures and ending with rest. Follow that shape at home and keep the effort level where you could still speak in short sentences.

Check with a doctor first if you are pregnant, have high blood pressure, glaucoma, joint disease or a recent injury. Beginners should avoid extreme practices such as headstands until they have supervised guidance.

Related reading on this blog: What Is Yoga? and Before You Start Yoga: Warm-Up, Breathing and Listening to Your Body

Book: The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Yoga by Joan Budilovsky
View this book on Amazon (affiliate link: we may earn a commission at no cost to you)