Flow yoga is a type of yoga that connects your movements to your breathing. In flow yoga, the yoga postures or "asanas" flow smoothly from one yoga position to the next on either an inhalation or an exhalation.

Flow Yoga is also called Vinyasa Yoga, which means "breath-synchronized movement." The thought is that the controlled breathing that accompanies the yoga positions in Flow Yoga cleanses the body and creates energy. This philosophy is the basis for other popular yoga styles like Ashtanga Yoga and Power Yoga.

But unlike the predetermined sequences of Ashtanga Yoga, there is no single set of rules or philosophy governing Flow Yoga.
Instructors have the freedom to create unique experiences by linking yoga positions according to their personalities and the needs or mood of the class. This makes Flow Yoga a great option for both beginners and experienced yogis alike.

In theory, I really like trying new things. However, in reality, sometimes I get scared, although, I always feel a lot more comfortable going into a new experience if I have an idea of what to expect.

For those of you who are scared to join a gym because, you know, it's big and intimidating and full of scary equipment and giant, sweaty, loud men (and women), prepare to be, well ... prepared. There's a book just for you, called "The Gym Survival Guide: Your Road Map to Fearless Fitness."

The Fit Bottomed Girls reviewed it, and said it was perfect for beginners because it tells them what to expect in different classes, explains how the equipment works, talks about goal setting, provides sample workouts, talks about fitness myths and truths and discuses gym etiquette. So, basically, you can read this book and be a pro before you ever set foot in your local health club. Where was this book 10 years ago when I was hitting the gym for the first time and doing nothing but the treadmill because I was scared of the equipment?

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As little as a decade ago yoga was a fitness activity that I only knew about through healthy-living, new-age diehards and celebrities like Madonna and Ali McGraw. Since then it has grown into a fitness phenonmen so big that it is a rarity to find someone who hasn't tried it or doesn't know someone who has. In fact, within the past year I have had four friends realize they love the practice so much they've begun the intensive training that will eventually allow them to teach their favorite style.

Until a few months ago I avoided jumping on the yoga bandwagon. Was I curious about it? Yes. Was I also a bit afraid and overwhelmed by it? Absolutely! How would I know what type to try? What if I couldn't stretch my limbs far enough or balance properly? What if I fell over during a tough pose in class and made a fool of myself? These are all valid questions for a newcomer.

Luckily one of my friends currently doing her training offered to give me some classes on the basics so that I could learn the poses and she could work on her training skills. I learned from her that yoga is all about challenging yourself, doing your personal best and working up to harder poses in your own time. It is not about competition or judging anyone else in class. For those who don't have someone to introduce them to the practice but are interested in giving it a try and are unsure of where to start, here is a great guide to the different styles and who they're geared toward. Figure out what you'd like to try, check out a beginner's class and, above all, give yourself time to learn and move forward.

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