Yoga is a Hindu spiritual and ascetic discipline. It has been around for centuries. However, it recently has become increasingly popular in North America. People practice yoga because of the desire for health, greater personal freedom, relaxation, and a long life. Yoga is built on three main structures: exercise, breathing, and meditation. All of these put together help to greatly reduce stress. Some yoga classes are designed purely for relaxation, but there are also styles of yoga that show you how to move your body in new ways. Choosing one of the many styles of yoga offers the greatest health benefits by enabling you to develop your flexibility, strength, and balance.

     This is the first year at Simonds High School in Saint John, New Brunswick that yoga is being offered as a course. Ms. Johnston is teaching it. This is a great idea because anxiety is becoming more and more common, especially in teenagers, who have three times more stress than their parents did as teens.

     I took yoga last semester and I found that it greatly improved my flexibility and balance. I continue to do yoga at home because it makes me feel happier and healthier.