A s practitioners and teachers, husband and wife Jay and Terry Gupta say they've seen the benefits yoga can offer people coping with chronic physical and mental health problems.

And they share that message every year at NH Yoga for Peace, a daylong public celebration of yoga, health, well-being and community.

"We really believe everyone should have access to yoga," said Terry Gupta who, with her husband, founded YogaCaps Inc., a nonprofit group that works with hospitals and community organizations to offer therapeutic yoga to treat and prevent chronic diseases.

On Saturday, the sixth annual NH Yoga for Peace conference will kick off at 9 a.m. at Merrimack High School with an opening ceremony and a keynote speech from Dr. Amita Chopra, who will talk about how to meditate.

Throughout the day, more than 60 local practitioners will offer classes on different types of yoga and meditation for people of all ages and levels of experience.

There also will be lectures on other aspects of health and well-being, as well as music, dance and food. Admission to NH Yoga for Peace is free, but donations are welcome. Any money raised will be used to support YogaCaps' Volunteer Corps, which provides free yoga classes to cancer patients, seniors, veterans and patients at the Greater Nashua Mental Health Center. Donations also will help fund a group of Merrimack High students who plan to attend Peace Jam, a youth-oriented social justice conference organized by 13 Nobel Peace laureates.

"Yoga for Peace is the world as we would like to see it," said Terry Gupta. "We need everyone on board to build a community where everyone is healthy."

Roseann Latona of White Swan Yoga in Manchester will be back on board for a third year at Yoga for Peace, offering a class in gentle yoga for beginners and people recovering from injury.

"It's a wonderful day of like-minded people coming together," said Latona. "I always come home saying it's one of the best days I've ever had."

Growing popularity

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Organizers of annual yoga event espouse multiple benefits to novices, experts