A qualified teacher is essential to the proper development of yoga skills. Yoga can be practiced alone or in groups and classes. The best results come with regular practice. Contorting the body is not an objective. Rather, the goal is learning to control the body according to one's own abilities and gaining awareness of the body and its relationship to its divine origins.
Correct breathing is also a vital part of yoga.
Deep breathing through the diaphragm and special breathing patterns contribute to its beneficial effects. Exhaling in time with certain phases of movements, and inhaling at other times, help maintain postures and promote relaxation. Those skilled in yoga can learn special breathing techniques, such as inhaling through one nostril and exhaling through the other. Proper breathing promotes relaxation and is useful in maintaining yoga's many postures. Yoga is best practiced at the beginning or the end of each day.