So you think yoga can only be done by emaciated Indian sages who meditate with their feet tucked behind their heads?

Or by Madonna and other annoyingly in-shape dancer/gymnast new age hippies?

Or by women, period?

Or you’ve tried a yoga class and you couldn’t walk for 3 days? Or hurt yourself trying something that didn’t even look that hard?

Or you don’t believe that yoga doesn’t burn any real calories so you should stick with weights and step classes, even though frankly, they are an unpleasant chore?

Or you think you are too stiff, too weak, too fat, too old, too out-of-shape?

Or you think yoga is a religion and you already have one, thankyouverymuch?

Yoga is for everyone. Whether you’re a body builder whose pecs are so big (but short) he finds it hard to breathe deeply, or whether you’re a frail seventy-something who is wondering how she is going to pick up that pencil she dropped. If you can breathe you can do yoga. It doesn’t matter if you can’t remember the last time you exercised or if you believe you’ll never, ever be in shape again or lose weight. It doesn’t matter if your fingers can’t touch your knees, let alone your toes.

Yoga seeks to promote health and well-being through physical exercise. Regular practice makes the body strong, supple and healthy. It has a profound effect on circulation and on the functioning of  the inner organs, glands and nerves. Many common  physical ailments can also be improved through the regular practice of yoga, and it is never too late or too early in life to start.

Yoga is not a religion or a form of worship (although I have heard people say that it helps them deepen their personal worship). I do not stress any philosophical sides of yoga in my lessons because I believe your spiritual journey is your own and there are plenty of benefits on the purely physical side. But all its philosophy really boils down to is ‘be a good person’. Something we all aspire to be, I think.

When I started doing yoga a number of years ago, I could barely get my fingers down beyond my knees, I couldn’t sit up straight for more than 30 seconds without my back cramping and I was 30 pounds heavier than I am now. (Actually, the only reason I started yoga was because the Mat Pilates class at my gym was killing me and I thought maybe I should try something gentler….) I was amazed, as you will be, at how quickly flexibility increases (in 6 months I reached my toes and I now put flat hands on the floor), and how I started feeling more energized and better in my body almost immediately.

While the weight didn’t simply fall off in a month or less, I lost it steadily without going on any diets or taking any miracle pills. I fell in love with yoga and I can truly say I am in better shape now than I have ever been. My students have reported similar benefits: decreasing blood pressure, improvement of balance, flexibility, strength, and energy levels, weight loss, calmer minds, better sleep, more focus and a stronger immune system. In short: yoga has made a real difference in their lives.

Let’s see if yoga can do for you what it has done for me and so many others! Click here.

If you like to do yoga without too much mysticism, try Marleen's Monday night class. As a construction worker I use my one day a week of yoga to relieve my aches and kinks. Plus it's just a lot of fun bending, balancing, stretching etc. I can't wait to touch my toes..... soon!

- Peter J