Yoga — it seems like everyone's doing it. But what is it, and why should you jump on the yoga bandwagon? Simplistically defined, yoga is an ancient science utilizing the physical, mental, and spiritual energies in a series of exercises to free the body and mind of discomfort and disease, enabling the student to sit for meditation.

Yoga, which literally means, "to yoke" or unite, originated in India in the 2nd century B.C. Modern yoga students come to class for a variety of reasons ranging from strengthening and toning the body, to increasing flexibility, to stress relief. These benefits are all available from even a semi-regular practice, but many practitioners find that yoga classes offer them much deeper rewards.

Maybe you've tried one class and didn't love it, but your friend, doctor, or significant other is pushing you to give it another chance. Or you've never tried yoga and you're curious, but intimidated because you can't touch your toes, or you don't have the right clothes or a mat. Maybe you have a specific need or condition you'd like to address using yoga but don't know which class would be best.

Don't fret. There is a yoga class and teacher out there for you. Martha's Vineyard has an impressive array of yoga types, teachers, classes, and spaces, and our small island is a wonderful place to begin or broaden a yoga practice. There's even a website listing every yoga class available on the Island (marthasvineyardyoga.com). This easy-to-use site lists the teacher, type, and location of all Vineyard yoga classes and provides maps to the various studios and gyms — as well as giving regular updates on class cancellations and changes.

Most yoga studios and gyms have communal mats available and a basic assortment of props to assist with some of the postures. Yoga teachers have been trained in yoga asana (physical poses) and pranayama (breathing), as well as meditation, anatomy, and physiology, so they can help you through your first classes. Many Island teachers have done advanced trainings that allows them to assist even students with limited flexibility or injuries to explore and benefit from a yoga practice. Let's look at some popular types of yoga and figure out which class might be right for you:

Anusara Yoga, a relatively new form of yoga created by teacher John Friend in the 1990s, has a strong focus on physical alignment. Classes are heart-opening and community-focused. Postures can be challenging, but props are encouraged and teachers explain and demonstrate the postures. A confident beginner could take these classes.

Ashtanga, which means eight limbs in Sanskrit, is a system of yoga created by master teacher Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. Breath is synchronized with a progressive, continuous series of postures creating an athletic yoga practice. Ashtanga is a good fit for those seeking a challenging, more cardiovascular, practice.

Bikram Yoga was created by Bikram Choudhury, a gold medal Olympic weight lifter and disciple of Bishnu Ghosh. Classes are taught in a heated studio (often 95 to 105 degrees) believed to promote increased flexibility, and detoxification. Traditional bikram is a set series of 26 poses but not all hot classes observe this limitation. This type of yoga is for those in good physical health looking for a challenge.

Hatha is considered the most basic form of and the foundation of all yoga. It incorporates Asanas (postures), Pranayama (breathing), and meditation. Most classes are slower paced so this is a good introductory class for many beginners, or any student looking for a class that focuses on the basics.

Iyengar, developed by yoga master B.K.S. Iyengar more than 60 years ago, deeply explores physical alignment (optimal positioning and posture). The poses are generally held longer and time is taken in coming into each asana. Yoga props like cushions, blankets, straps, and blocks are key. Iyengar is beneficial for those needing a physical therapy component to their yoga class, and it can also work for beginner students.

Kripalu is a gentle form of Hatha yoga that often involves an inward focus and plenty of breathwork. This is another possibility for a yoga newbie or any student needing a slower pace.

Kundalini Yoga works to awaken and draw upward the spiritual energy at the base of the spine also known as the "root chakra." Kundalini can be quite rigorous and a typical class will include chanting, meditation, and breathing exercises, it is an intriguing form for those interested in the spiritual and energetic aspects of yoga.

Power Yoga, inspired by Ashtanga, is a practice combining stretching, strength training, and breathing. Many of the poses resemble calisthenics — push-ups, handstands, and squats — but the key component is the pace. Instead of pausing between poses each move flows into the next. This is a good type for those seeking a yogaerobic workout

Prenatal Yoga is for expectant moms, although some classes are open to dads and/or postpartum women. Prenatal combines asana and breath to safely stretch and strengthen, often alleviating common discomforts of pregnancy, as well as preparing the body and mind for birth. Meditation time is focused on bonding with the baby, and classes help to create a sense of community for mothers-to-be.

Restorative Yoga teaches postures designed for relaxation, deep stretching, and opening, using blocks, blankets, and cushions to support the body so poses can be held longer. Restorative is ideal for those in recovery physically, mentally, and spiritually or anyone who needs extra nurturing.

Vinyasa, sometimes referred to as flow yoga, coordinates breath and movement. It is a physically active form of yoga created by Krishnamacharya and Pattabhi Jois. Like Hatha, Vinyasa can be a general term to describe many types of classes, but most tend toward a vigorous pace and focus on a series of poses called Sun Salutations. If you are looking for a faster class with lots of variety this is for you.

Yin Yoga, another newer form, was developed by teacher  Paulie Zink, and combines Hatha yoga with Chinese Taoist traditions like Qigong. Yin poses are held for long periods to stretch the connective tissue around the joints to prepare the body for sitting meditation. It's a great form for those seeking increased flexibility and improved joint mobility.

And don't worry about your outfit, as long as you're able to move comfortably and freely. Yoga is focused on internal experience, not external appearance. So roll out your mat, I'll see you in class!

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A couple of yoga sessions a week could help ease sleep problems and other effects of menopause, a small study suggests. The study, reported in the journal Menopause, included postmenopausal women diagnosed with insomnia.

“We are not saying that yoga can cure postmenopausal symptoms”, said Dr. Helena Hachul, one of the study authors. "But it can improve and relieve them."Hachul and her colleagues randomly assigned 44 women to one of three groups. Fifteen had no treatment, 14 did stretches with a physical therapist twice a week and 15 participated in yoga classes twice a week.

The yoga sessions included a variety of stretching positions and Tibetan techniques used for strong and fast breathing. After four months, women in the yoga group reported fewer menopause problems than those who did nothing.

Women often experience hot flashes, night sweats, anxiety, and irritability during menopause, and some have trouble sleeping or feel down. Hormone replacement therapy eases many of those problems, but comes with risks of heart disease, stroke and breast cancer, according to the Women's Health Initiative study from 2002.

Since then, fewer women are taking hormones and many have looked to alternative methods of dealing with their problems, including taking herbs such as black cohosh and red clover for hot flashes. But one study found those remedies are no better than dummy pills.

Homeopathic treatments such as evening primrose oil, ginseng, kava, licorice, or sage, have also been a disappointment, according to the North American Menopause Society. By contrast, research has shown that yoga reduces stress levels and curbs the activity of the sympathetic nervous system's "fight or flight" response, the body's reaction to threat or danger. "This is part of the accumulating evidence that shows the benefits of yoga," said Cathryn Booth-LaForce about the latest findings.

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Vacations are the perfect opportunity to relax and unwind. Guests at Four Seasons Resort Maui, the island's first and only AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Five-Star resort, would agree. The resort has perfected this "state-of-being" into a finely crafted art. Rest on its laurels? Not a chance. The resort has literally taken the next big leap by offering two one-of-a-kind yoga retreats as part of its year-long series of Unforgettable Events.

Kathryn Budig, a celebrated Los Angeles-based yoga instructor, who teaches the Vinyasa style of yoga, leads off February 27 to March 3, 2012. At her retreat, guests will learn techniques to better connect the breath to movement, allowing poses to flow together like a choreographed dance. Widely recognized for her playful mixture of challenging classes, infectious love for yoga, and joyful personality, she teaches her students poses designed to identify, open and strengthen both body and mind. She also will demonstrate ways to make the body more graceful, accepting and flexible.

Budig has been featured on the covers of Yoga Journal, Yoga International, Om Yoga and Common Ground. She also is a published writer whose articles have appeared in the Huffington Post, Yoga Journal, Yahoo Shine's Living Section and MindBodyGreen. An avid food lover, Budig is passionate about sharing healthy, organic and eco-friendly recipes.

"We are pleased to bring these two extraordinary yoga retreats to our guests. We know these active retreats can synchronize mind and body, create an inner state of harmony, and cultivate physical, mental and spiritual health. What better way to actively engage in the overall Four Seasons Resort Maui vacation experience," says Thomas Steinhauer, regional vice president and general manager, Four Seasons Resort Maui.

The retreat will include five nights in a luxurious garden-view room; full breakfast daily in the resort's DUO restaurant; four sunrise and three sunset yoga sessions with Budig including two offsite excursions to inspirational settings; a Welcome Reception and a traditional outrigger canoe closing ceremony; and "Talk Story" sessions with Budig in the Yoga Suite. Pricing for this package begins at $3,800 for a single participant. Limited availability. To reserve this package, contact pat.makozak(at)fourseasons(dot)com or call 1 (808) 874-2939. Coming June 13-17: The internationally-acclaimed husband and wife team of David Swenson and Shelly Washington return to Four Seasons Resort Maui with their popular and powerful Ashtanga Yoga Retreat.

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The second day of Virat Yog Sammelan at Ram Nagar started with full gusto by the people participating in the Yogabhyas Varg (aasan session). There were various lectures throughout the day by well-known speakers of yoga and holiness whereas the highlight of the day was the quiz conducted on hath yog and patanjali yog sutra.

It was conducted in an uncomplicated way with four teams. The group were Niruthi, Dhyaneshwar, Sopan and Mukta Bai. The participants of the quiz had to be passed in the pravin pariksha. There were four rounds with two of them being rapid fire and visual round. In the visual round the contestants were shown various aasans and had to identify which aasan is beneficial for which organ of the body.

Whereas the rapid fire round was to test the brain's swiftness and make the quiz engaging. Two separate rounds for the audiences kept them glued to the event. The mood of the mandal was calm and serene. With numerous people sitting patiently and trying to gain knowledge about yoga and spirituality the atmosphere was tranquil. Various volunteers rendered services despite their busy schedules. People came with a single motive of finding a way to attain Moksha through yoga.

"Yoga and meditation are the way to spiritual enlightenment. They provide mental peace. It's the path of self realization and connecting to one's own soul. It helps one realize the purpose of life and moksha prapti," said Jitendranath Maharaj from Dev Nath Math from Anjan Gaon Surji. The evening discourse by Govind Dev Giri Maharaj was a pleasantly agreeable session which kept people mesmerized throughout.

"The path of self-realization starts with the hath yog (dealing with aasans and the body) proceeds to Raj yog (related to the mind) but the journey remains incomplete till it attains the understanding of the Bhagwat Gita." He added that while people go all over the place in search of God, temples, mosques, pilgrim places, God resides in people.

"He is inside you in the form of your soul. The God who dwells in your soul is the same God who is inside every other living being. The person who comprehends this is a Mahatma. The Gita teaches us that the path to attain spirituality is through service with a contended smile on your face," said Giri Maharaj

He also allied cricket with understanding of life, putting it in a way that would reach the masses in a clear and simple way.

He said, "Life is like a game of cricket. You are the batsman and have to prevent yourself from being stumped. All sorts of balls like sorrow, envy, distress, grief and other materialistic diversions are going to come your way. All you have to do is keep hitting the ball. It doesn't matter if you're bowled or stumped but what matters is that you are ready to fight it off."

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The second day of Virat Yog Sammelan at Ram Nagar started with full gusto by the people participating in the Yogabhyas Varg (aasan session). There were various lectures throughout the day by well-known speakers of yoga and holiness whereas the highlight of the day was the quiz conducted on hath yog and patanjali yog sutra.

It was conducted in an uncomplicated way with four teams. The group were Niruthi, Dhyaneshwar, Sopan and Mukta Bai. The participants of the quiz had to be passed in the pravin pariksha. There were four rounds with two of them being rapid fire and visual round. In the visual round the contestants were shown various aasans and had to identify which aasan is beneficial for which organ of the body.

Whereas the rapid fire round was to test the brain's swiftness and make the quiz engaging. Two separate rounds for the audiences kept them glued to the event. The mood of the mandal was calm and serene. With numerous people sitting patiently and trying to gain knowledge about yoga and spirituality the atmosphere was tranquil. Various volunteers rendered services despite their busy schedules. People came with a single motive of finding a way to attain Moksha through yoga.

"Yoga and meditation are the way to spiritual enlightenment. They provide mental peace. It's the path of self realization and connecting to one's own soul. It helps one realize the purpose of life and moksha prapti," said Jitendranath Maharaj from Dev Nath Math from Anjan Gaon Surji. The evening discourse by Govind Dev Giri Maharaj was a pleasantly agreeable session which kept people mesmerized throughout.

"The path of self-realization starts with the hath yog (dealing with aasans and the body) proceeds to Raj yog (related to the mind) but the journey remains incomplete till it attains the understanding of the Bhagwat Gita." He added that while people go all over the place in search of God, temples, mosques, pilgrim places, God resides in people.

"He is inside you in the form of your soul. The God who dwells in your soul is the same God who is inside every other living being. The person who comprehends this is a Mahatma. The Gita teaches us that the path to attain spirituality is through service with a contended smile on your face," said Giri Maharaj

He also allied cricket with understanding of life, putting it in a way that would reach the masses in a clear and simple way.

He said, "Life is like a game of cricket. You are the batsman and have to prevent yourself from being stumped. All sorts of balls like sorrow, envy, distress, grief and other materialistic diversions are going to come your way. All you have to do is keep hitting the ball. It doesn't matter if you're bowled or stumped but what matters is that you are ready to fight it off."

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My lack of flexibility was discovered in primary school. I struggled to sit cross-legged during assemblies, with my knees closer to my shoulders than the floor. Gymnastics was horrible - I barely mastered the forward roll.

Teasing friends used to say that I "ran from the knee" during college sports, such was my relatively short stride. An Adidas sports scientist told me he had never seen such tight hamstrings and the squat toilets on several trips through China became physically quite demanding - and not just because of the quantity of roast duck I had consumed.

I played plenty of sport into my mid-30s but noticed strain-type injuries occurring more regularly. My physiotherapist suggested yoga. To make it more enticing, I turned it into a challenge - to do yoga every day for a month.

I had some experience. Classes were offered at a previous workplace but they seemed too slow and gentle for my liking. I also tried "yoga" sessions at a prominent Auckland gym but they didn't really live up to the name. Far from calming, the teacher prowled the room with a microphone headset, continually shouting at us to push ourselves and "work harder".

Perhaps most bizarrely, after a tough sequence she would say "now use this time to get your breath back" when everyone knows that one of the founding principles of yoga is to learn to control your breathing.

Week 1

It's not the most promising start on day one at the Auckland Yoga Academy. Ashtanga yoga blends postures that require a mix of strength and suppleness and I soon found just how far I have to go in terms of elasticity. Halfway through the class the teacher advised that beginners may need to sit on a blanket for the next position, sitting with one leg outstretched while the other was folded at the knee. My grey army blanket was folded into three, before the teacher came over and said quietly "I'll get you another one." It was also triple folded and soon I was high enough to resemble a human Leaning Tower of Pisa - and still felt mild discomfort in my knee and foot.

I had arrived late and the class was quite full, forcing me near the front of the large room, though the teacher soon kindly switched me with someone near the back.

During the week I often found myself slightly out of step struggling to keep up with the more complex poses until they were demonstrated by the instructor. It was bloody hard work as well, though I was quick to master the corpse pose, the relaxation phase at the end where you lay on your back, covered by a blanket with your arms outstretched. It was a strange feeling, like every single muscle had been stretched and pulled. At least twice I feel asleep during relaxation, only saved by the bell used to rouse us.

Breathing is an issue. Every movement is supposed to be synchronised with your breath - inhale as go down, exhale as you lift up - but all my concentration is used up on the postures and breathing becomes random. Not ideal.

Certain muscles hurt, but not excessively so, like after a weights workout or a football game and 24 hours seems just enough time to recover. Maybe this will be possible.

Week 2

"Yoga has changed my life," a man told me after a lunchtime class. He was previously a bit of a "loose cannon" but was thriving on the self discipline and had changed his diet, cut down his alcohol intake and was sleeping less.

Meanwhile for me, in the best traditions of a toddler, the blanket is becoming my best friend. I use two to assist in various sitting positions, even when the teacher doesn't suggest it. I feel a bit ridiculous sitting on a blanket even during the basic cross-legged position but what can I do?

The process of adjustment is fascinating. You stretch as far as you can and hold on, usually for five seconds, when the teacher comes and "adjusts" you; pushing or pulling you deeper into the pose. As soon as their hands are removed your body reverts to the old position but over time incremental gains are possible.

Yoga is physically challenging, but the hardest aspect is the mental side. Of all the forms of exercise I have done, yoga is the most mentally taxing. Every time the teacher tells us to empty our minds, "clear your thoughts" and "stop the chatter" my mind does the exact opposite. Of course that is one of the key elements; being in the present moment and focussing completely on the particular pose. That seems impossible and unfortunately the less focussed you are the harder the class is. I realise how adept my brain has become at this constant juggling; not so much multi-tasking as "multi asking" - "did I make that phone call?" "When was the meeting?' "I wonder what time it is?"

Week 3

I get into the swing.

Week 4

Somewhat of a breakthrough this week. All of a sudden, it seems, my hands are touching the floor in forward bend, and I can reach my ankle now instead of my calf in another standing stretch.

Other things have changed. I found myself foregoing red meat at lunchtime, thinking ahead to the class that evening. The nadir came when I was in a yoga class at 7pm on a Friday and not that sad to be there.

I now notice new beginners as they arrive, hustling to the back row and struggling to follow the initial sequence of exercises. Some look just like I did I'm sure; straining every sinew, pulling joints out of position, instead of going with the flow and letting your body stretch as far as it can.

Conclusion

What you get out of yoga is completely up to you. Some are looking for flexibility, others to tone their muscles; some want to get over an injury while most also crave the promised benefits of a "still" mind.

I'm still incredibly inflexible - it is not an instant panacea but more a long journey. But I have noted slight improvements and my ability to concentrate has increased. The sore back I got every day in front of the computer is less evident and I sleep better, especially after an evening class. Friends say I have lost some weight (not my goal at all unfortunately) but toning is more common.

Perhaps most importantly, I have not picked up an injury during my sports and feel I am on the path to fewer strains and sprains.

Yoga is not cheap; per month it costs about the same as a full gym membership but you get what you pay for. Each instructor at the Yoga Academy has undergone an extensive training programme and they are experts, able to assess in a millisecond what adjustments you may need.

It is not particularly social like some gyms can be. Everybody sits in silence before the class and most leave immediately afterwards. It also wasn't a replacement for cardio based exercise; over the course of the month I cut back on running, tennis and so on, and found I really missed it.

You will need to be focussed. Unlike gyms, which provide blaring music, televisions to watch and even magazines to read - anything to distract you from what you are actually meant to be doing - yoga demands 100 per cent concentration if you want to do it properly. Perhaps the most satisfying aspect is that it is all down to you.

Expensive personal trainers and boot camps offer external sources of willpower, with yoga your progress comes from the inside and there is no cutting corners.

What is yoga?

Originating in ancient India, yoga became popular in the West during the 1960s. Broadly speaking, it aims to synchronise breathing and movement to promote a strong flexible body and focussed mind (the literal translation of the Sanskrit word yoga is union).

Yoga can have a highly spiritual element but most people in New Zealand use it as a form of exercise. Famous celebrity devotees include Madonna, Sting and Sarah-Jessica Parker.

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Though all different forms of exercise are great, yoga is amongst the few which offers the body flexibility too. In fact, martial arts experts use yogic moves to build in this element into their practice. Flexibility is important for several reasons. One, flexibility facilitates easy joint movements and is an indicator of joints that are healthy and well lubricated.

Flexibility also means the large muscle groups have extended their range of movement and elasticity which in turn gives them the 'bounce' factor, helping you recover from falls, or injuries faster and more completely.

Flexibility also means that the subtle muscle tissue called fachsia is toned and in good form. In fact, flexibility is also an indicator of the predominant muscle fiber you have developed: flexibility is associated with slow -twitch muscle groups. The slow-twitch muscles help with endurance activity and stamina. They are good muscle fibers to cultivate unless you are into fast, sporty activity that need spurts of speed and energetic movements (like running, competitive games, fighting etc), in which case you would need to develop fast-twitch muscles. The latter are lighter in colour, get less oxygen, and are stiffer in form. Slow-twitch muscles are well oxygenated, are red in colour and have good blood supply. They also heal faster, due to these reasons.

In the nascent psychosomatic sciences, flexibility of the body is also an indicator of flexibility of the mind, which may be a cherished quality to cultivate.

While using yoga to develop flexibility you may need to start off with simple stretches, and move into the more challenging ones after a few weeks of practice. Initially start off by doing the same move several times. After some time, as stamina develops, you may extend the duration in the final pose, holding it just once, but longer. Also, moving the mental focus over the  body, managing the breath, and learning to shift weight will bring a meditative focus into the practice which will further help you develop the flexibility of both body and mind.

Points to note:

The most important point to remember is not to overextend if you are stiff, but use a move gently, keeping the extension to under-capacity always. While doing the stretches, you must have also have warmed up sufficient, to prevent muscle, ligament or joint injuries. Using preparatory poses to help you reach into more challenging ones is a wise way to plan your practice.

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In yoga, child's pose isn't actually meant for children, but Cynthia Gordon wonders if the animal-themed positions are. Gordon, a local instructor, teaches youth yoga at community centers in Omaha. Her pupils — some just 2 years old — hiss during cobra, bark during downward dog and meow during cat's pose.
"That makes it fun for them," she said.

But youth yoga classes are more than fun. They also boost the kids' physical and mental health. Omaha community centers, independent studios and some gyms now offer yoga workshops or regular classes to their younger clientele.

Gordon said it's important to introduce kids to yoga early so they are familiar with it as adults. "We've got a generation of adults, many of whom aren't sure what yoga is," she explained. "They think we're going to tie them up in pretzel poses."

The poses, including the kid-friendly ones, improve strength, balance, posture and flexibility. Yoga's physical value benefits every age group, said Julie Hertzler. Hertzler enrolled two of her granddaughters in Gordon's class earlier this year.

"It helps kids learn about their bodies and what it feels like to use a muscle group," she said. Yoga is a lesson in self-control and discipline, too. In toddler yoga, kids ages 2 to 5 spend 25 minutes mimicking Gordon's movements. Those ages 6 and older receive 30 minutes of instruction. Gordon said those time frames suit their attention spans. "Kids aren't perfect, but I've never had to turn anyone away." Their concentration improves with each class, she said. "The ability to focus is huge, ask any parent."The lessons the children learn in class can be helpful at home, too. Mom and dad can incorporate breathing exercises and calming poses "if things get a little out of hand," Gordon said.

Jen Johnson, whose 6- and 10-year-old daughters take a kids class, said yoga helps them unwind. "We often forget about how the fast paced, hectic schedules of our daily lives affect our kids," she said. "They get stressed, too." In fact, she said the final five minutes of relaxation is the part the kids look forward to most.

Some schools incorporate yoga into their curriculum. Mary Lincoln, a counselor at Lewis and Clark Middle School, teaches a class to seventh- and eighth-graders each quarter. Though Lincoln isn't a certified instructor, she feels comfortable teaching the basic poses that she has picked up as a yoga student.
"We have a great time with it, and the kids really love it," she said. "I have so many kids say, 'Can you come back tomorrow?' Or 'I loved that. Can we have a club?'"

Lincoln said yoga is especially appealing to students who aren't interested in sports. It offers them the opportunity to be active through a less traditional outlet. "Some of them don't think of themselves as athletic," she said. "But they're really good at this."

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"No, you won't have to stand on your head ... No chanting, no incense, no gurus," John Capouya boldly exclaims in the introduction to his best-selling guide book Real Men Do Yoga. "And no, it isn't a chick thing".

Attempting to show that yoga's not solely a preserve for the fairer gender, Capouya quotes a string of male sports stars in his book, who all rave enthusiastically how the ancient mind and body practice has improved their on-field performance. These include the baseball pitcher Barry Zito, the basketball ace Kevin Garnett and the American football running back Eddie George, who graces the cover of the book, showing off his ripped physique.

But it's not just US sportsmen who are fervent exponents. The Manchester United footballer Ryan Giggs has put the longevity of his playing career down to his keenness for yoga; Scotland's habitual grand slam runner up Andy Murray is a diehard fan; while the New Zealand rugby union team turned to a yoga instructor to prime them for their recent world cup-winning campaign.

Earlier this year, it was reported across world media outlets that elite warrior units in the US, such as the Navy Seals, were insisting troops take up yoga to reduce injury levels and instil mental toughness. The latest research from the UK from the University of York, released last month and contributing to a growing body, showed that 12 weeks of yoga classes led to a small improvement in how well participants could perform their daily activities.

Yet despite this roll call of burly blokes, all proclaiming its benefits for endurance, muscle tone and strength, yoga is still seen by many as irredeemably feminine - particularly in this part of the world.

Paul Jones is one of the few male yoga teachers in the Emirates, having taught at the Zen Yoga studios in Dubai since 2008. Although the gender imbalance has improved recently, he says men are still well in the minority in his classes. He blames this on cultural perceptions.

"Many guys think that physical activity has to be rigorous and competitive - either lifting heavy weights or bashing into each other," says Jones. "If it's not this, then some think 'what's the point of it?' Because you're not building up big muscles, and it does involve some degree of self-reflection, it's seen as something very feminine, which actually if you try it, you'll find it can be as exhausting and challenging as many other sports."

Jones explains that despite yoga's association with ladies, when the exercise originated in India 5,000 years ago, it was exclusively practised by men. So why did this change when it spread outside the subcontinent?

"The first people to bring it to the West were men in the 1960s," says Jones, "but it arrived at a time when a new emphasis was being put on women's health and well-being, and so it kind of became a symbol of women's empowerment and feminism. Then there was the way it was marketed, with celebrities like Madonna and supermodels doing it. So it became a kind of aspirational activity for a lot of women.

"But now I think more emphasis is being put on men's well-being and health, so hopefully we'll see more guys getting involved." Ria Haffar, who teaches at the Abu Dhabi Country Club, believes that fear of being outdone by women is another reason why many men are put off yoga.

"At my mixed classes, I think there were guys who'd want to take part, then they'd come along, see all these females and run away," she says. "I guess they thought 'they're all really flexible and I'm not' and feel intimidated and shy."

Hence Haffar has now started male-only beginner's classes, which she says have been a success, drawing up to 15 men per session.

"I see the guys, and they're embarrassed when in the mixed class, but they're not when they're here," she claims. "But when men do yoga, they're brilliant at it because they have more strength than women.

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(Mission Valley News, San Diego, CA) – Are you looking for a workout program that’s easy to learn, requires little or no equipment, and soothes your soul while toning your body? If strengthening your cardiovascular system, toning and stretching your muscles, and improving your mental fitness are on your to-do list, than yoga is for you! Classes are free and open to teens (13+) and adults.

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