15 Basic Yoga Poses Any Beginner Can Do!

Interested in trying out yoga? These 15 basic yoga poses are perfect to start with.

They are gentle, calm, and will make any beginner feel amazing!

We love these poses for a relaxing workout because they calm your mind and your body.

Some of these basic yoga poses are considered “two-sided” poses. This just means that they work one side of your body at a time, and you will need to do the opposite side as well.

You should also work to build your strength and flexibility equally in both sides.

These poses will say to “repeat on both sides.”

Remember to breathe deeply through these stretches and poses, and always listen to your body first and foremost.  Rest when needed.

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1. Mountain Pose (Tadasana)

This is one of the most basic yoga poses you can do.  Many other poses will begin with this one.

Begin by standing with your feet side by side and slightly touching.  Clasp your hands at your heart.

Stand tall, and try to lift your shoulders higher to the ceiling.  Focus on allowing the energy to course through your body, from your feet to your hands.  You can also try this pose with your hands pointing towards the ceiling as well.

2. Tree Pose (Vriksasana)

Begin in mountain pose (above).  Bring your left foot to rest flat on the inside of your right thigh.  Your left toes should be just above your right knee.

As in mountain pose, try to focus on standing tall and pointing your shoulder back and towards the ceiling.  Clasp your hands at your heart.

If you want to challenge yourself a little more, raise your arms up towards the ceiling.  This will make it a little harder to balance, but it will work your muscles more.

3. Cow Pose (Bitilasana)

#3 on our list of basic yoga poses is great for those with back ailments.

Cow pose is traditionally performed with cat pose (below) as a “flow” or “vinyasa.”  This simply means that the poses are performed together or in a sequence.

Your hands should be shoulder width apart, and your knees should be hip-width apart.

Gaze down at the floor, and arch your back as you exhale.  Focus on pushing your butt out behind you.

4. Cat Pose (Marjaryasana)

From cow pose (above), round your back up towards the ceiling as you inhale.

Repeat cat and cow together with deep breaths for optimal effects.  They are counterposes to one another, which means that they move the body in opposite directions.  Anytime you put strain on a certain part of your body, you should do a counter pose to release the tension.

These two poses are great for warming up the back before performing anything more strenuous.  They are also great at the end of practice to wind down.

5. Child’s Pose (Balasana)

Child’s pose is a restorative pose in yoga.  Begin in a kneeling position with the tops of your feet flat on the floor.

Sit lightly on your feet but with your heels turned outward just a bit.

Lean forward so that your arms are outstretched on the ground in front of you and your forehead is touching the ground.

This pose can be about resting or meditation.  The point is to let the body completely relax.

You should return to this position any time throughout your practice that you feel you need a break or to rest your muscles.

6. Half Spinal Twist (Ardha Matsyendrāsana)

#6 on our list of basic yoga poses is a twist and is great for your spine.

This is especially important if you do a lot of work on your back in yoga, are on your feet all day, or if you sit hunched over your computer all day.

Both knees should be bent, with your right knee bent above the left leg.  Reach behind you with your right arm, and use your left elbow to steady yourself on your right knee.

Gently twist until it feels right on your body.  Don’t push yourself too far.  Hold for 5-6 breaths, and make sure to repeat on the other side.

7. Lotus Pose (Padmasana)

This pose is often performed during meditation.  Don’t let it fool you though.

Beginners should only hold it for a few seconds because it can put a lot of strain on the knees if your body is not used to it.

Begin by bending the knee and placing the top of your left foot just inside the point where your hip creases near the groin.  Bend your right knee, and gently lift your right foot on top of the left leg to rest just inside the point where your other hip creases near the groin.

You should feel this in your ankles and your knees.  Hold for 5-6 deep breaths, and repeat on the other side.

If you are feeling lost about where to get started with your yoga practice, check out our Yoga Fat Loss Bible for Beginners at the bottom of the page. The beginner modifications and workout plan will get you started and going in the right direction in no time.

8. Hero Pose (Virasana)

#8 on the list of basic yoga poses is great for meditation and posture.

Sit with your knees bent and your feet on on either side of your hips with the heels pointed towards the ceiling.

If this pose puts too much strain on your knees, you can sit on a yoga block or a blanket to ease the discomfort until you gain the flexibility to sit on the ground.

If this feels very easy for you, try working towards reclining hero pose by first leaning back on your forearms and then eventually laying all the way down on your back.

9. Warrior I (Virabhadrasana I)

This pose is similar to a basic lunge, except that your outstretched foot should be pointed out to the side rather than tucked under or supported on your toes.

Make sure to keep the bent knee at a 90-degree angle.  Your gaze should be straight ahead of you or slightly upward.

Focus on channeling your energy through the hands and towards the ceiling.

Hold for 30 seconds, and repeat on the other side or transition straight into warrior II (below).

10. Warrior II (Virabhadrasana II)

Warrior I and II are often performed as a vinyasa, along with warrior III, which is a little more advanced and therefore not included in this article.

From Warrior I, bring your arms down and straight out to either side of you as you open your hips and twist your body to face the side.

Warrior I and II will help open the hips and strengthen the quadriceps.

11. Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana)

What most people don’t realize when trying to do this pose is that your back should be straight.  Try it in front of a mirror, and see if the small of your back is rounded or completely flat.  This requires a lot of flexibility in the legs and the back.

Make sure your hands and feet are shoulder width and hip-width apart.  Ground into your heels, and get them as close to the mat as possible.  This requires flexibility in the ankles.

You can also increase the stretch in your shoulders by leaning your head and chest in towards the ground.

This is one of the most popular poses on the list of basic yoga poses.

Hold for 30 seconds, and try one-legged downward facing dog (below).

12. Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana)

Cobra pose and upward facing dog (below) are both great stretches for the back.

In cobra, the lower half of your body and even lower ribs should be on the ground, with the tops of your feet touching the ground.

Bend the elbows slightly, and lift the chest.  Gaze upward, and keep the shoulders back.  This is an intense stretch in the lower back.

Hold for 5-6 breaths.  Do a counter pose such as child’s pose after stretching the back.

13. Plank Pose (Phalakasana)

Yes, the plank is popular in yoga as well!  It really is the ultimate position for control in the core.

Place your hands shoulder-width apart, and keep your butt lifted.

In yoga, plank is also often done with the upper back and shoulders rounded, because it is necessary for many transitions into advanced yoga poses.  Imagine that someone has a rope around your abdomen and is pulling it up towards the ceiling but you are trying to stay grounded.

Focus on that tightening in the abdomen to keep the core engaged.

Hold for 30 seconds up to 2 minutes.

14. Lunge (Anjaneyasana)

#14 on the list of basic yoga poses is the basic lunge, and it’s an incredible hip opener!

This is another great pose if you have tight hips or sit behind a computer all day long.

Make sure the knee in front of you is at a 90-degree angle.  You can lean forward or sit up straight to stretch different parts of the muscle.

The outstretched knee behind you should be resting on the floor.

This is another two-sided stretch, so make sure to repeat it on the other side.  Hold for 5-6 breaths or up to 30 seconds.

15. Corpse Pose (Shavasana)

The irony in corpse pose is that it is actually much harder than it looks.  Many people tend to skip the relaxation part of yoga.  This is a mistake because it is actually what lowers your cortisol levels and helps you burn more fat.

It is often hard for many people to “sit still” and relax at any point in their day.  You should use this time to let go of negative feelings and energy and let the body completely relax.

It’s often good to do at the end of practice when you’re finished with your routine and/or before meditation.

If you are looking for more beginner poses and tips to transform your body with yoga, my Yoga Fat Loss Bible for Beginners is a great place to start!

It comes with everything you need to get started, including a complete 6-week workout plan, a flexibility guide, and a beginner’s guide to meditation!

It’s a great solution around for those looking to lose weight, get more flexible, and relieve aches and pains with a calm yoga practice.

It will show you exactly how to melt away stubborn body fat with a regular yoga practice and has the top 50 fat-burning yoga poses every beginner should learn.

Click here to check out the Yoga Fat Loss Bible!

Always remember that the most difficult part of doing yoga SHOWING UP.  Make sure to show up today and give your best to this workout. You deserve it!

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