Practice as often as you can, especially in the beginning.  Ultimately, we recommend that you practice 6 days a week for the first two months, unless you suffer from chronic condition.  Then, continue to practice 6 days a week until the condition is gone.

The length of your induction phase will depend on your state of health at initiation.  In fact, the harder this yoga is for you in the beginning, the more your body needs it.  That may sound like a big task to you as you begin your practice, but it will be worth every ounce of effort to put in.  This intensive practice period gives your body a jump start.  You will notice many changes in your body and health, and incredible improvements in your postures quickly.  Practice daily until you are performing 90% of the postures 90% correctly, especially the most challenging postures like Standing Bow and Balancing Stick pose.

Practice your yoga sessions back to back.  Yoga is not like weight-lifting.  Your body does not want or need a day of rest in between classes.  If you wake up in the morning stiff or sore, get back to class that day.  Your body will feel much better for it.  The days that you least want to go to class are usually the days your body needs it the most.  Conversely, take your days off together, too.  If you are planning to practice five days a week, take your two days off together to give your muscles ample time to rest and heal.  You'll come back to class feeling like a million bucks!

After the induction phase, a daily practice can continue or relax into a regimen of several times a week, as long as you are supplementing with other forms of exercise.  Remember, the Surgeon General recommends 60 minutes of exercise EVERY SINGLE DAY to maintain your current state of health and 90 minutes each day to improve it.  This yoga is thorough enough to be your sole form of exercise.

With that said, we know that not everyone has the time or finances to make it to class every day.  Not to worry.  You will find yourself creating time to get to yoga.  The more you can come, the faster your progress will happen.  As much as you can fit yoga into your life, do it.  Whether it is once a month or once a day, get yourself into a class.  It is like putting money in the bank for your retirement.  How much do you want to retire with?

If you are still wondering at the health benefits of yoga, just look at someone who has been practicing for twenty or thirty years.  They have no age, they have become timeless!