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Maya Iyer

Maya Iyer writes our beginner guides and style explainers - what Vinyasa actually is, how Yin differs from Restorative, what to expect the first time you walk into a class, and what to look for in a first retreat. She writes for the reader who is one nervous search away from trying yoga, because she remembers being that reader: she spent close to a year reading about yoga before she worked up the courage to go. Her habit now is simple. Before she writes about a style, she takes the class, sits in the back row, and notes everything that confused her - the confusing parts become the article. She keeps a soft spot for beginner-friendly sequences and for the small practical questions nobody thinks to answer: what to wear, where to put your hands, and whether it is okay to rest.

Maya Iyer

By Maya Iyer

Hot Yoga and Bikram: What the Heat Does - and Doesn’t - Do - by Maya Iyer
Yoga Styles Hot Yoga and Bikram: What the Heat Does - and Doesn’t - Do
The heat meets you at the studio door - thick, humid air that fogs the windows and rivals a sauna. Friends rave about the sweat, and it's fa...
Maya IyerJune 14, 20266 min read
How to Track Your Yoga Progress Without Comparing Yourself to Anyone - by Maya Iyer
Yoga Basics How to Track Your Yoga Progress Without Comparing Yourself to Anyone
Glancing around class and feeling behind? Learn how to track your yoga progress on your own terms, without measuring against anyone else.
Maya IyerJune 5, 20265 min read
How to Stay Safe in a Beginner Yoga Practice - by Maya Iyer
Yoga Basics How to Stay Safe in a Beginner Yoga Practice
Around 16.9% of US adults practiced yoga in the past year, per the CDC - many of them brand new. Here is how to stay safe in a beginner yoga...
Maya IyerJune 4, 20265 min read
5 Poses to Prepare You For Lotus
Practice & Sequences 5 Poses to Prepare You For Lotus
"How do I get into Lotus without hurting my knees?" If you've ever asked a teacher that, you're asking the right question. Lotus Pose (Padma...
Maya IyerJune 4, 20266 min read
Partner Yoga: Doing Yoga Together
Yoga Styles Partner Yoga: Doing Yoga Together
Hands steady on your back, breath matching yours, a partner guides you deeper into a pose than you'd reach alone...
Maya IyerJune 3, 20265 min read
Yoga Etiquette for Beginners: How to Show Up Right in Studios and Online Classes - by Maya Iyer
Yoga Basics Yoga Etiquette for Beginners: How to Show Up Right in Studios and Online Classes
Your first class starts in an hour and nobody handed you a rulebook. This yoga etiquette guide for beginners covers studios and online class...
Maya IyerMay 31, 20265 min read
What Is Yoga? A Beginner's Guide to Starting Well - by Maya Iyer
Yoga Basics What Is Yoga? A Beginner's Guide to Starting Well
Never unrolled that mat you bought? This straightforward beginner's guide covers what yoga is, what it does for you, and how to get started...
Maya IyerMay 30, 20266 min read
Yoga Equipment for Beginners: What You Actually Need Before Your First Class - by Maya Iyer
Yoga Basics Yoga Equipment for Beginners: What You Actually Need Before Your First Class
Buying a cart full of gear before your first class is a classic mistake - the yoga equipment beginners actually need, and what can wait.
Maya IyerMay 28, 20265 min read
How Often Should Beginners Practice Yoga? A Plain Answer for New Students - by Maya Iyer
Yoga Basics How Often Should Beginners Practice Yoga? A Plain Answer for New Students
There's no magic number of yoga days per week - how often beginners should practice depends on your goals, your body, and plain starting poi...
Maya IyerMay 27, 20265 min read
A 10-Move Chair Yoga Sequence for a Midday Reset - by Maya Iyer
Practice & Sequences A 10-Move Chair Yoga Sequence for a Midday Reset
By 2 p.m., your shoulders are hunched, your back aches, and your energy has flatlined. A short chair yoga routine done at your desk can fix...
Maya IyerMay 15, 20265 min read