It’s proposed that more than eleven million Americas are now doing yoga on a regular basis-in the gym, YMCAs, private studios, senior centers, living room floors and retreat centers all over the country. What is it about this ancient art and science that captures people from all walks of life?

Yoga can change your life! It helps you feel better if you are depressed, anxious, tired, bothered by low back pain, addicted to drugs, etc. It can help you live better with problems like arthritis, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, or HIV/AIDS. It can bring relief if you suffer temporary symptoms such as tension headaches, hot flashes, or sinus pressure. As Dr. Timothy McCall states in his book, Yoga as Medicine, “Yoga is quite simply the most powerful system of overall health and well-being I have ever seen.”

This comprehensive system of health care can reduce stress, increase flexibility, improve balance, promote strength, heighten cardiovascular conditioning, lower blood pressure, reduce overweight, strengthen bones, prevent injuries, lift mood, improve immune function, increase the oxygen supply to the tissues, heighten sexual functioning, foster psychological equanimity, and promote spiritual well-being – want to hear more?

Yoga is all about balance. Using the techniques of various stretching, breathing, movement, balance, meditative, and strength practices, the practice of Hatha Yoga provides a challenge wherever you need it. Break down the word Hatha and you see the innate method for creating balance in your life. ‘Ha’ means Sun, ‘Tha’ means moon and it is indicative of the bringing together of opposites into balance or wholeness. (Specifically, the balance between strength and flexibility, between effort and ease, between the understanding of form and formlessness.)

Use this systematic technology regularly and you will experience improvement to the physical body, deeper understanding of the mind and a freedom to the spirit. The purpose of yoga is to deepen self awareness. Through a greater understanding of yourself and how you respond and operate in the world you can make great strides in choices you make that not only impact your own health, but affect your relationships with others. The regular practice of yoga works with habit patterns that have previously developed that may be undermining your heath and well-being (samskaras), and you efficiently forge new neural pathways and strengthen new patterns that support the change you desire for yourself.

Yoga is generally quite safe if you find the right style and teacher for your needs. Sometimes it takes experimenting a few times, trying a few classes to find what really fits for you, but when you do, you will understand this response from Deb when asked to comment on how she feels about her yoga practice.  “Yoga feels good. I always feel better after my yoga class than I did when I started, it never fails. I feel lighter, freer, recharged and ready to face my daily life. I have experienced a profound change to my sense of well-being since starting yoga.”