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When I first tried yoga years ago, one thought came to me: “This is like a shower – for your mind”. Its internal effect was instantly apparent to my then stressful lifestyle, and I was always surprised to see how charged yet relaxed I felt after it. I also noticed that it provided whatever I needed: If I needed to relax, a yoga class would result in a good night’s sleep. If I needed energy, I would get that too. In other words, yoga balanced me.

If you haven’t already, this is the month to try yoga and reap all of the health and stress-management benefits this practice offers. In 2008, the Department of Health and Human Services recognized yoga as an important mind-body wellness and prevention tool and designated September National Yoga Month. Lucky for you, the Yoga Health Foundation has gathered information about yoga and its benefits, as well as resources to take advantage of this month and, hopefully, for the rest of your life. The organization has a free class/event finder for you to find free yoga offered throughout the nation during this month-long celebration.

So, what is yoga? Yoga is a practice that originated in India thousands of years ago, and it involves moving your body into poses or postures called “asanas” and using deep breathing and concentration (meditation) for the purpose of improved mental and physical health and the unification of mind, body and spirit. This makes it a holistic practice, one that integrates all aspects of your self and allows for an improved state of well-being, which sets it apart from other disciplines you may find at a gym. Yoga is neither a religion nor technically an outright sport, though some practices are definitely a workout that the practitioner can improve over time, and the grapevine has it that yoga may find its way to the Olympics soon.

The credit for the origin of yoga is given to the text Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, a Hindu scripture. The original eastern purpose of yoga is much more spiritual or metaphysical than its western adaptation (the West is more physical-focused and the practices here reflect that) and Patanjali’s writings explain the importance of the mind as king of well-being and physical reality. If you’re trying yoga for the first time, notice how it makes you feel and the effects on your mind, beyond the physical results.

Here are some of the benefits of practicing yoga, according to the Mayo Clinic:

• * Stress reduction

• * Increased fitness and flexibility

• * Management of chronic health conditions

• * Weight loss

Because of its popularity and beneficial nature, many studies are now focused on yoga, and you can check our HReport regularly, where we feature research on this and other topics as it is published in scientific journals. Other benefits of yoga are said to include mental clarity and enhanced brain function, lower cholesterol, improved skeletal structure, correct breathing, stronger bones and joints, increased concentration, lower blood pressure, and the mental ability to stay calm and present in spite of the challenges that life throws your way.

There are various types of yoga, and Johannes R. Fisslinger, President of the Yoga Health Foundation, and the director of the film Titans of Yoga recommends trying them all to see which one is the best for you.

Types of yoga most popular worldwide:

* Ashtanga: Originally the name for the “eight-limbed yoga” mentioned in the Sutras of Patanjali, Ashtanga has evolved in the West into a practice you may see as “Vinyasa Flow”, also called “power yoga”. This is a more intense workout type of practice that allows one posture to flow directly into another, with the goal of improved cardiovascular fitness, strength and overall flexibility. The physical challenge also trains the mind to be calm in spite of the body’s agitation and sweat. Like most physical exercise, sweating makes it a good purification/detox practice.
* Hatha: The prevailing style of yoga in the USA, with various sequences of asanas and a focus on both emotional and physical health.
* Bikram: This is the “hot yoga” – practiced in a room that is 105 degrees.
* Iyengar: Sometimes called the “healing” or “therapeutic” yoga, this form of Hatha focuses on restoring any structural misalignments, either from injuries or bad posture (computer neck, anyone?)
* Kundalini: Also called the “yoga of awareness”, with a focus on spirituality and breathing for increased immunity and mental peace, this practice includes chanting and meditation. Its goal is to awaken our consciousness, connect us to spirit and to our universal truth, and unlock the flow of energy that is available through our chakras.
* Raja: Also known as “classic yoga”, it is focused on breathing exercises to clear the mind through meditation, with the goal to achieve mental freedom and awareness.

“There are a lot of different techniques, but, in the end, they are all for the union between body and mind,” says Fisslinger. “I think that in the West, because of our lifestyle, we needed a counterbalance to a stressful life. Yoga provides that. Also, yoga is more physical in the West because we just don’t move as much – we’re on the computer a lot.”

Unlike other physical exercise options, Fisslinger says that yoga can be very targeted and very diverse, an incredibly complete practice. “The beautiful thing about yoga is also that there are so many poses that you can basically focus on and work every single muscle in your body. For example, I have been on the computer a lot lately, and I feel the tension in my back. I can take five minutes to do a yoga stretch and feel so much better. But beyond that, for me, overall, the biggest benefit is inner peace and really connecting with who I am.”

Today is a good a day as ever to be begin to take advantage of those benefits for your mind, body, and spirit – and pocket (it’s Yoga Month, remember?) Take any of the free classes available nationwide, and be sure to let your yoga teacher know of any injuries or physical problems you may have so that he or she can advice you on what postures will benefit you or which ones to avoid. Good luck, and here’s to a more balanced, holistically healthy lifestyle.