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Then, Stanley Cup MVP Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins gave partial credit to yoga for his big win a couple of years ago, recalled Keserich, goaltender for the Tulsa Oilers.

Has it helped his own game? "Absolutely," Keserich said. "Health, mind, body - it's a total work out."

Still, he admits that he first thought yoga was for women, which is a popular preconceived notion about yoga.

"People are hesitant for whatever reason," said Keri Edwardes, who has practiced yoga for five years and taught for four at local places like St. John Siegfried Health Club. Keserich was even one of her students.

"The hardest part of getting into yoga is walking into the class for the first time," said Edwardes, who joined other local yoga instructors in helping demystify the ancient practice of yoga for folks who might be intimidated by it.

The benefits of taking yoga abound, she said, including increased flexibility, focus and confidence, and decreased symptoms associated with stress.

Before she started doing yoga, Meghan Donnelly was an "extremely stressed" student at Oklahoma State University, putting herself through school, working full time and struggling with a bad relationship.

When she tried yoga, "it was like the best drug," she said, adding how it calmed and centered her. "I wanted some more of that."

Now, at 35, "I look better and feel better than I ever have in my life," said Donnelly, the owner and instructor at Inner Peace Yoga, 7718 E. 91st St.

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Experts, enthusiasts debunk preconceived notions of yoga