How Often Should You Do Yoga a Week?

If you've taken up a yoga practice, you may be wondering how frequently you should be rolling out your yoga mat. The decision of how often to practice comes down to personal goals and your own preferences. Whether you practice yoga once a week or every day, you can experience the benefits of yoga both on and off your mat.

One reason many people seek yoga is to bring greater peace and tranquility into their lives. Practicing yoga promotes stress relief and may ease anxiety. In turn, it's possible to experience better sleep as a result of reducing stress and anxiety, common contributors to sleep disturbances.

In a study published in Complementary Therapies in Medicine in 2007, a group of people with mild to moderate stress levels practiced yoga or relaxation techniques once a week for an hour. After 10 weeks, yoga was found to be as effective as relaxation in decreasing stress and anxiety levels and improving overall health.

Regular yoga practice promotes muscle flexibility. As such, it's an increasingly popular activity among competitive athletes looking to up their game and prevent injuries.

A study published in the International Journal of Yoga looked at male college athletes, measuring differences in performance between those who practiced biweekly yoga sessions and those in a non-yoga group. The results determined that a regular yoga practice may improve flexibility and balance, characteristics that may contribute to enhanced athletic performance.

Improved cardiovascular function, reduced inflammation and a decrease in chronic pain are just a few of the possible internal benefits of a regular yoga practice.

One study of yoga practitioners over age 40 who had been practicing for five years found positive benefits for heart health. The study participants had lower blood pressure and a lower pulse rate than those who did not practice yoga.

Knowing the information above about yoga benefits will help you define clear goals for your practice. If your time is limited and you simply want to start incorporating yoga into your life, you can experience benefits even with ​an hour of yoga a week​.

If, however, you have larger goals of overall enhanced health, stress relief or mastering certain postures, you might practice yoga several times a week or daily.

There are many different styles of yoga, each with its own set of principles, targeted outcomes and techniques. Your goals in practicing yoga will help determine the style or combination of styles that work best for you.

Some yoga styles are more vigorous and physically demanding, such as vinyasa or ashtanga. These styles are well-suited to those looking for a challenging workout or weight loss.

Other styles are slower-paced and ideal for stress relief or a stretching-focused routine, such as restorative yoga. There may be a set sequence of postures, as in Bikram yoga, or there may be room for creativity and variations in sequencing.

In addition, the room may be heated or room temperature. Heated classes may allow muscles to warm and open up, making certain postures more accessible. Your best bet is to gather as much information as possible about any yoga class you plan to take. That way, you'll know what to expect, how it aligns with your goals and whether it's the right format for you.

Practicing in a yoga studio can be a great way to begin a regular yoga practice. Most studios have various class packages to suit your frequency of attendance as well as your budget. By practicing in a studio, you can take advantage of live instruction from an experienced teacher. Some people also enjoy practicing alongside other yoga students and meeting new people.

If you prefer to practice at home, however, you can opt for streaming online yoga classes or yoga DVDs. You can also incorporate private lessons into your regular routine for personalized, expert instruction. Some yoga teachers who teach at studios also offer private instruction or small-group classes outside the studio.

The physical postures of yoga, called asanas, are only one aspect of yoga. Combined with other elements such as breathwork, meditation and living a yogic lifestyle, yoga is an all-encompassing discipline. The way that lifestyle unfolds is individual.

Whereas for one yoga practitioner it might mean being a vegetarian, for another it might mean volunteering at a soup kitchen. There isn't a "right" way to practice yoga and incorporate it into your life. The key is finding the right balance of mental, physical and spiritual practices that works for you.

Pregnant people who have been practicing yoga regularly prior to pregnancy will often continue practicing while pregnant. Certain postures should be avoided, such as deep twists, belly-down postures such as cobra pose and, after about 18 weeks, any postures that involve lying on your back.

At the same time, other postures might feel great for pregnant people, such as supported bridge pose and cat-cow.

If you plan to attend class, be sure to tell your instructor you're expecting, or look for prenatal-specific yoga classes. Always talk to your doctor about any concerns — pregnancy-related or otherwise — before starting a yoga practice.