Yoga provides an all-over stretching and strengthening, body-mind experience for men and women of all ages and abilities - whether you're a seasoned athlete, a bit "past your prime", or "minivan mom".

Hatha yoga originated in India several hundred years ago. There are many schools (versions) of yoga available to the practitioner, but they all use "asanas" (postures) as the basis of practice. Many asanas are gentle stretching exercises, helping to increase flexibility, while others emphasize the development of increased strength, balance and endurance. Yoga is a bit different from other, more conventional forms of exercise in that it uses the motions and mechanics of the body in ways that do not generally cause strain and imbalances in the body; instead, regular practice can often work to correct such imbalances!

Yoga can be demanding as it involves nearly every muscle in the body, challenging them to work in a different way than is usually required, but even with these occasional challenges, yoga is a gentle, low-impact, non-aerobic workout for the whole body. Numerous variations for all poses make yoga a suitable and accessible exercise for people of all ages and abilities. Yoga practice should be met with a personal approach, each person accomplishing the pose according to what feels good for the practitioner today - with full freedom for personal adjustments within the pose. The poses should be challenging, but not painful.

Yoga is currently practiced in numerous countries world-wide, and is claimed to reap various benefits for its regular practitioners including,

• the reduction of stress
• improved focus and concentration
• increased muscle strength and tone
• better flexibility and balance
• improved body awareness
• increased muscle joint mobility
• relaxation of the body and the mind

Although generally considered a safe and beneficial form of exercise, as with any exercise program, please consult with your physician before beginning your yoga practice.