Yoga is a complex integrated system, which has a history of 5,000 or more years. Beginners can be easily overwhelmed by the vastness of the yoga practice, it's philosophy, and it's literature. Here are a few key principles that will help you understand better the numerous aspects of Yoga.

Ten Key Fundamental Principles.

1.Yoga is what is traditionally called a liberation teaching. It guides us to free ourselves from our historical limitations of who and what we were to become something greater and better.

2. To truely learn and understand Yoga, a teacher must instruct if possible , whether in a class or even on a video.This is essential for ultimate success in Yoga. It is possible to benefit from a good many yogic practices even without instruction though as any form of yoga is better than none at all.

3. Because everybody has their different strengths and weaknesses, Yoga has various styles that have been developed over time. There are many however here are the seven most common:

(i) Râja-Yoga is the "Royal Yoga" aiming at liberation through meditation, which is for practitioners who are capable of intense concentration.
(ii) Hatha-Yoga is the "Forceful Yoga" aiming at liberation through physical transformation
(iii) Jnâna-Yoga is the "Wisdom of Yoga" aiming at liberation through the steady application of higher wisdom that clearly distinguishes between the real and the unreal
(iv) Karma-Yoga is the "Action Yoga" aiming at liberation through self-transcending service, relinquishing the ego.
(v) Bhakti-Yoga is the "Devotional Yoga" aiming at liberation through self-surrender in the face of the Divine
(vi) Tantra-Yoga is the "Continuity Yoga" aiming at liberation through visualization, ritual, subtle energy work, and the perception of the identity of the ordinary world and the transcendental Reality
(vii) Mantra-Yoga is the "Yoga of Potent Sound" aiming at liberation through the repetition (aloud or mental) of empowered sounds (such as om, hûm, ram, hare Krishna, etc.)
-Often considered an aspect of Tantra-Yoga these seven branches are alternative portals into the mysteries of Yoga and thus our own consciousness.

4. Yoga is a journey of theory and practice. In order to engage Yoga properly and successfully, one must pay attention to the ideas behind its practical disciplines and to the exercises and techniques encompassing its theories. This calls for thoughtful and mindful practice. For instance, regular and correct practice of the yogic postures will definitely help us maintain good physical health.

5. All forms of Yoga have as their foundation of a sound moral life, there are basic laws. They stand for moral virtues like nonviolence, truthfulness, and abstention from theft, compassion and kindness. Basically you could say it's about living a positive life. Without a firm grounding in these moral principles, Yoga cannot lead us to its ultimate goal of liberation.

6. However simple a particular yogic approach may be, all approaches require a huge commitment. If we fear change and cling to our old habits, we cannot succeed in Yoga. The practice of Yoga calls for considerable personal effort, which involves self-discipline.

7. Yoga is made up of a lot of practice, both physical and mental. These can be broken down into two major categories:
The first is the repeated performance of exercises or techniques that are intended to produce a positive state of mind in us.
The second is the complementary practice of letting go of old behavior patterns, habits or attachments that hold us back

8. Focus is the key to making improvments with yoga. With focus comes control and power.The power in question is the energy of consciousness itself.

9. Get back to basics, the more we untangale our lives the better of we will become.

10. Yoga is a progressive process of replacing our unconscious thought patterns and behavior with new, more beneficial patterns that are helpful towards a better life. It takes time to achieve this goal of self-transformation, and therefore practitioners of Yoga must first practice patience.

We must be willing to commit to a lifetime of yogic practice. There must be a basic want to grow, regardless of whether or not we will achieve enlightenment in this lifetime. It is one of Yoga's fundamental beliefs that no effort is ever wasted, even the slightest attempt at transforming ourselves makes a difference. It is our patient cumulative effort that grows into self-realization sooner or later.