http://www.flickr.com/photos/mishism/ / CC BY 2.0

Yoga has many proven benefits: improved flexibility and range of motion, positive effects on blood pressure and chronic pain, and stress reduction are some of the most common that come to mind. But for someone unfamiliar with Yoga who is interested in practicing the poses there can be one drawback: the terminology. For a beginner joining a class for the first time may be as foreign and intimidating as placing an order for a medium coffee at the most popular coffee house chain. Before you order a Yoga DVD I would suggest you check out the Yoga Journal website. The site has a glossary of Yoga terms, a section on holistic healing and what I like best- a poses section that illustrates the pose and has step by step instructions plus that pose's main benefits, any cautions to be aware of before attempting the pose, and helpful beginner's tips. Visit YogaJournal.com