How to start yoga at home: 10 essential poses for beginners

For some reason, in the last decade, yoga â€" in all its bizarre forms (hot, cold, with beer and even, goats) â€" has become a go-to workout for fitness fanatics. It has transformed from being a workout you might do once a week wearing slouchy tracksuit bottoms to an exemplary physical and spiritual ideal (preferably dressed head-to-toe in the latest yogi range from Lululemon and sipping on a dairy-free, gluten-free, high-protein, pumpkin-seed smoothie). For many, yoga is a lifestyle, not just a form of exercise.

So popular, ‘yoga’ actually appeared among the top 15 words in the UK last year.

For beginners, a gut feeling of inner anti-calm is something of a rite of passage â€" an experience that you have to push through before reaching the promised land of yogic nirvana. And whether or not you get there, the stretches are certainly a good form of exercise â€" one we can all benefit from, meditation or not. 

Here, then, are ten easy(ish) poses for you to get started with...

The 10 key yoga poses for beginners 1. Child’s pose

The go-to movement for whenever the class becomes a bit too much and you need a rest. You’ll probably recognise this move from other fitness classes, as it’s often included in various cool down stretches. Kneeling down, with your knees about hip-width apart, make sure your big toes are touching. As you exhale, lower your buttocks toward your heels and rest your torso on â€" or between â€" your thighs. Reach your hands out in front, placing your forearms flat on the ground, and let your forehead rest gently on the mat.