Despite yoga's metaphysical underpinnings, there are tangible steps to take for those thinking about trying it. We asked several prominent Sacramento yogis to weigh in.

• Learn about the different yoga styles (see the list on this page). A novice will usually want to start in a basic class taught at most studios; the more athletic take the plunge right away in more vigorous classes.

• Find a studio. The Yoga Journal (www.yogajournal.com) has an extensive database. Just type in your ZIP code for a list of studios. A simpler way, said teacher Rachel Miller, is to find a studio near your home: "Yoga is about connecting to people, and if you do it with people you live around, it's more of a sense of community."

• Find a teacher: There is no state certification for yoga instructors. However, many yogis have been certified by a group called the Yoga Alliance (www.yogalliance.org). Most local studios post teacher biographies and philosophies on their websites.

• Know the qualities to look for in a teacher: Here's a list provided by Michelle Marlahan, owner of Sacramento's It's All Yoga: "kindness, humor, heart, 'walking the talk' of what yoga really is, plus being in touch with nature, spirituality and mindfulness."

• Know the qualities to avoid: Teachers whose egos get in the way of tending to the needs of the class. "I tend to say a little mantra to myself before I teach: 'May I get out of the way and be of service to the students,' " said Anne Marie Kramer of Zuda Yoga. "Let the yoga do the teaching."

• Avoid getting hurt: Said Joyce Kilburg, teacher at the El Dorado Hills Sports Club: "Listen to your body first and (the teacher) second. Sitting and watching is a great way to learn and, yes, that is practicing yoga, too. The competitive thing is not practicing yoga."

– Sam McManis

PICK YOUR YOGA STYLE

Many kinds of hatha yoga are taught in the Sacramento area.

• Bikram ("Hot"): Developed by Bikram Choudhury, students perform a series of poses in a room heated to 100 to 105 degrees. The "hot" variation may or may not use all of Bikram's 26 poses.

• Vinyasa Flow: In what's called "breath-synchronized movement," students perform a series of postures flowing into one another, connected by breath.

• Asthanga: Often called "power" yoga, this features a vigorous series of poses linked by conscious breathing. Classes can differ depending on the studio.

• Yin: Slower and quieter, this type involves poses that are held for several minutes with deep breathing and, often, meditation.

• Kundalini: Tantric breath and movement that free the energy in the lower body, moving it upward through the "chakras," the body's centers of power.

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