Yoga, a practice that began in ancient India, isn't just for gurus and flower children anymore. Let's face it, just about everyone is toting around sticky mats, and with all the benefits yoga provides, why not? Yoga has something to offer everyone, whether you're looking for your inner yogi, rehabilitation after an injury, or to enhance your current workout regimen.

Where to Look for Yoga Classes
Yoga classes are truly everywhere these days, offered by gyms, yoga studio, community centers, spas, hotels, and even athletic gear stores. And it's not just a big-city phenomenon anymore, either; there's likely yoga around no matter where you live. To figure out where to take your yoga class, you'll need to decide what you're hoping to get out of it. If you've never taken yoga before and want to check out what all the hype is about without making a commitment, then you might want to check out a free (or very cheap) class at a local rec center. Many yoga studios also offer a week of free classes to let students get a feel for different instructors before buying a package of classes. If you already call "down dog" by its Sanskrit name, then the yoga offered by your local gym might not be up to snuff; you may want to search out a studio that teaches the school of yoga you want to perfect.

Different Types of Yoga Classes
If you're a yoga neophyte, start by deciding if you're after a class with spiritual leanings (often referred to as "mindful" in the yoga community), or if participating in a communal "ohm" would make you squirm. They're both out there, as well as a bunch of creative classes like yoga set to dj-ed or live music to prenatal yoga and partner yoga. Finally, you should decide if you want an active or a restorative class (though many classes blend the two), and if you're interested in a group class, weekend workshop, or one-on-one instruction.

Here's a run-down of some popular yoga styles; keep in mind that many of them use the same poses, but approach them from different philosophies:

• Iyengar:Good yoga class for beginners. It's slower-paced, with more focus on proper alignment than getting through an entire yoga sequence. The other advantage for beginners is that Iyengar makes generous use of "props" to help students who lack the flexibility or strength needed for certain poses.
• Vinyasa: Also known as "flow yoga," this practice emphasizes the movement between postures as much as the poses themselves. Flowing with your breath is just as important, if not more important, than getting every tree pose exactly right. Vinyasa classes can differ greatly between teachers, but expect to do some sun salutations and to have a mix of active, strength-building work, and work on flexibility and balance.
• Ashtanga:Sometimes called "Power Yoga," Ashtanga is best for students already familiar with the basics of yoga, or who are in good physical condition. Ashtanga classes are pretty fast-paced, and they move through one of a few series of poses, with the idea that students master one series before moving on to the next. Each class involves a mixture of standing and seated poses, as well as inversions and backbends.
• Bikram:You may know this style by the name "hot yoga." Bikram yoga classes feature a room heated to more than 100 degrees and students are led through the same series of poses each class. This style is not for anyone in ill health, and beginners can feel faint or nauseous until they adjust to the heat, although many also feel very "cleansed" afterward.

Levels of Expertise
While yoga is the sort of thing that you never really master, classes are typically divided into levels of beginner, intermediate, and advanced. If a class is billed as mixed level, you should be fine attending as a beginner, as long as you don't get intimidated by a few headstands in the middle of the room. Speaking of headstands, inversions (or being upside-down) are commonly reserved for more advanced classes.

Another thing to consider is the length of the class. Many classes run for an hour, though some go for 75 or 90 minutes. There are also some lunch-hour classes that only last 45 minutes. Keep in mind that a longer class doesn't necessarily mean a harder class, since some 75-minute classes are a slower version of some 60-minute ones.