Dr. P. Murali Doraiswamy, professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at Duke University, calls for more comprehensive studies on Yoga's effect on mental health.

More than 3,000 people, including lots of beginners, are expected to stretch their muscles and boost their flexibility during Yoga Day USA, a free outdoor festival on Feb. 24 that will celebrate the growing popularity of yoga across the country.

At the Meyer Amphitheater in downtown West Palm Beach, South Florida teachers will showcase the assortment of yoga styles available at local studios, with classes for kids, veterans, first-timers, Spanish speakers and people with arthritis. The festival has exploded in popularity since it began in 2007, with 125 people in the first year and 2,100 last year.

"We want people with curiosity about yoga to explore and plug in," said Madison Moore, an instructor from Boynton Beach and the festival's coordinator. "We want everyone to be included, no matter what their level."

Moore said there are more than 100 yoga studios between Miami-Dade and St. Lucie counties. This abundance reflects the blossoming enthusiasm for the ancient practice across the country. A 2012 survey by Yoga Journal reported 8.7 percent of Americans practice yoga, up from 6.9 percent in 2008. Most practitioners are youthful, ranging in age from 18 to 44, the survey showed, while 82 percent are women.

The survey also reported yoga enthusiasts have money to spend: They bought yoga equipment, clothing and vacations worth $10.3 billion in 2012, up from $5.7 billion in 2008.

Although many studios in South Florida cater to the moneyed crowd with classes costing as much as $20, many classes are free, such as Connected Warriors, a series for veterans seeking to recover from war traumas. Connected Warriors founder Judy Weaver of Lighthouse Point will lead a 3:30 p.m. session at Yoga Day.

"We are seeing incredible results," said Weaver, who created the classes after working one-on-one with a veteran from Boca Raton. "Students are telling me they are taking fewer medications, lowering their blood pressure and decreasing their depression and insomnia."

The program began almost three years ago in Boca Raton, Wellington and Fort Lauderdale and is now in nine states.

A 9 a.m. class for people with arthritis will be taught by Mary Veal, of Jupiter, the only instructor in Florida certified by the Johns Hopkins University program, Yoga for Arthritis.

Read the original post:
Learn to stretch and strengthen at Yoga Day USA | Video

Maritza Johnson opened a studio for Bikram yoga, which is done in high heat, almost two years ago. Here she is demonstrating a pose. Jake Kara photo

It may be chilly outside, but its always cozy, to say the least, at Bikram Yoga Ridgefield, where the temperature is a constant 105 degrees with 40% humidity.

Your muscles become more supple and de-stress, said owner Maritza Johnson. The hot air is meant to warm you up from the inside when you breathe it in, she said.

Ms. Johnson started the shop in the Paris Nails building at the north end of Main Street about two years ago, and she comes from a more conventional workout background.

We used to live in Overland Park, Kansas, she said. I used to go to the gym, do machines, weights.

When she and her family moved here about 12 years ago, she took to running. I ran all over town.

She tried a few yoga classes in the area, but I didnt feel welcome, she said. I didnt think I was fancy enough.

Then a yoga classmate recommended Bikram, a form of yoga done in high heat, with the same 26 poses repeated in the same order every time.

The only thing that will be different is you and the person who is instructing you, Ms. Johnson.

She was hooked. She credits it with helping handle in stride the stress of having teenage daughters. They would say, Mom, youre doing that yoga thing again, arent you?

See more here:
Yoga, on the hot side

Forget the breathing and chantingthis style focuses on the physicality of yoga to get you in better shape By Marge C. Enriquez Philippine Daily Inquirer

OPTIONS teachers show amix of foundation and advance movements. NELSON MATAWARAN/YOGA CLOTHES BY TONIC

YogaFIT is the new kid on the yoga styles block. Not only does it aim to make the poses both fun and beneficial, but it also defies yoga conventions.

There are no pranayama or breathing exercises; no sun salutations or long poses; no slow transitions or chanting. The whole hour packs a wallop of continuous movements from pose to pose to pump up the heart. There are balances with limbs thrust into space and stretches that open up the tight or contracted areas such as the torso and the groin.

Bruce Chung, a Filipino-Korean trainer from Absolute Yoga in Bangkok, recently visited Manila to launch this new workout at the Options Studio. YogaFIT is what the name connotes. It focuses on the physicality of yoga, with emphasis on speed to increase the metabolism and burn more calories. It doesnt guarantee weight loss, he said, but hopefully, your clothes will seem looser.

Accessible but challenging

YogaFITs creator Kru Knot (a.k.a. Theera Anukunprasert) developed a program that would make yoga accessible to the beginner yet challenging to the regular practitioner. While traditional yoga is geared toward leading to spiritual awareness, YogaFIT is designed for the urban warrior who wants a fast but effective yoga that could easily fit in his lifestyle.

KENN Colubio, Bruce Chung and Lyndon Bulaon demonstrate basic balance poses.

The class is divided into four series of movement flows. Each one contains a break at the end, but hitting a peak, Chung said. From the beginning, there is a focus on core awareness.

Continue reading here:
Fast-paced yoga to pump up the heart

Certified yoga teacher Julie Kiddoo said her experiences participating in and leading the 40 Days to Personal Revolution program has transformed her life.

Revolution Power Yoga wouldn't be here if it weren't for the 40 Days, Kiddoo said. It's just made such a powerful impact on me and this yoga community.

She said the six-week program will help you strip away stress, worry and old habits in order to find your natural, happy and authentic self.

Kiddoo, who will lead the program this season at RPY, emphasized how participants will be jump-starting practices of yoga, meditation, journaling, diet awareness and self-inquiry. The program will also include weekly themes and group discussions.

We meet once a week, and in these community meetings it's really about connecting with other students who are going through this program with you at the same time, Kiddoo said. Although students may have different things in their lives that they are working on, it's so key to have the support of others who are going through the program.

During this program participants are asked to commit to meetings once a week, which are held every Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., directly following the 5:45 p.m. yoga class.

All other aspects of the program yoga, meditation, journaling and mindful eating are done at the participant's own pace. Revolution Power Yoga offers 22 classes per week and unlimited yoga is included in the cost of the program. Podcasts will also be provided online, making it easy for participants to practice at home when they aren't at the studio.

It's life-changing, said Emily Selonick, a past program participant. As much as it's hard to believe that 40 days and a book on yoga and meditation can change your life, it really does.

Join Revolution Power Yoga for this life changing six-week program where you will ignite your body, awaken your mind and transform your soul.

I really just needed some extra support to get my self-confidence back, said Kiki Schmidt, another past program participant. Coming in and doing the 40 Days, along with yoga six days a week and meditation, was incredible.

More here:
Revolution Power Yoga hosts six-week program