If you're new to yoga, come on over to the Yoga Forum, where we have a dedicated space just for newbie yoga students to ask questions, share stories and get advice.

One of the most common questions I get is about how exactly to start a yoga practice. Most of the time I tell people to just try a class at their local studio or gym, but I know that can be really intimidating for some, especially as a total beginner. So I've put together a comprehensive list of eighteen yoga books for absolute beginners. Here, you're not going to find the Bhagavad Gita or The Yoga Sutras - as I figured those are best for people who are looking to go a little deeper in the yoga study. Instead, the books here are about scratching the surface. The basics of mudras, meditation, pranayama and asana, as well as a little history of the yoga practice and philosophy. I hope the list is useful!