MONTREAL You could have heard a pin drop at the first annual Quebec Hatha Yoga championships in Town of Mount Royal on Saturday not because the church hall was empty, but out of deference to the 13 competitors.

They had three minutes apiece to impress the judges by flexing, contorting and immobilizing their bodies in ways unimaginable and, occasionally, a bit frightening to people who dont own a yoga mat.

And the more than 100 spectators helped them find their inner stillness with respectful silence.

Mike DAbate, a 32-year-old teacher from LaSalle, and Rosalie Abbey, an 18-year-old environment student at McGill University, emerged as the first provincial Hatha Yoga champions, and will represent Quebec at the national championships in Vancouver at the end of the month.

You had to like DAbates chances of capturing the mens division Saturday.

He was the only entrant.

But Judge Brad Cowell of Vancouver said DAbate did a lot more than win by default.

He scored very well. He has a very good shot for the Canadian championship, Cowell said.

DAbate said he started doing yoga a couple of years ago at the urging of a female friend who is now a yoga instructor.

It didnt bother him to be one of the few men doing it, he said. Im used to it. In the elementary schools where I teach, there are usually no more than one or two men.

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Yoga competitors display inner stillness