Written by Maya Collins · E-RYT 500
Yoga guides that
actually help you
on the mat
Clear yoga guidance for beginners and regular practitioners alike — with safer entry points, realistic health framing, and plain-English explanations you can actually use.
Explore all topicsStart here
How to use this site
New to yoga
Start with the beginner guide
Use this if you need a first-month roadmap, foundation poses, and a realistic way to begin safely.
Choosing a style
Compare major yoga styles
Use this if you are deciding between Hatha, Vinyasa, Hot Yoga, Ashtanga, Yin, or Kundalini.
Health and meditation
Explore evidence-aware topics
Use this if you want research-backed context on stress, mobility, sleep, mental health, or meditation.
Complete guides
Everything you need to build a practice
First Steps
Yoga for Beginners: Complete Starting Guide
Which style to choose, how to breathe, which poses to learn first — a complete roadmap for day one.
Styles & Traditions
Types of Yoga: Complete Guide to Every Style
Hatha, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Yin, Kundalini — how every major style differs and which suits you.
Technique & Body
Complete Guide to Yoga Poses
12 foundation postures with alignment cues, Sanskrit names, modifications, and 3 goal-based sequences.
Science & Health
Benefits of Yoga: What Science Says
10 science-backed benefits across stress, flexibility, strength, sleep, and mental health.
Mind & Stillness
Yoga and Meditation: How They Work Together
How postures and meditation reinforce each other neurologically — plus step-by-step protocols.
Philosophy & Lifestyle
Yoga Philosophy: Core Principles and Teachings
Patanjali's 8 limbs, the meaning of yoga, Sanskrit terms, and what it looks like to live yogically.
About the author
Maya Collins E-RYT 500
12 years of practice · 8 years of teaching · Austin, Texas
I started practicing yoga at 22 as a burned-out college athlete. What I found on the mat was more than stretching — it was a complete system for building strength, awareness, and resilience. Today, I write the guides I wish I'd had when I started: honest, thorough, and clear about both benefits and limits.
Full bio & credentials →Evidence-aware
Health-adjacent pages use visible sources and clearer scope limits. When evidence is mixed, the copy should say so.
Safety first
Pose and health guides state when to modify, pause, or get extra help. Because yoga should help, not hurt.
Genuinely accessible
Precise anatomy and alignment in plain language — so you understand your body, not just follow a cue.
Educational content only. Yoga by Maya does not provide diagnosis, treatment, or individualized medical advice.