Ancient practitioners have likened yoga to a living tree with six branches coming from the trunk, with each branch having its own unique function relating to a particular lifestyle.

Generally, Yoga consists of and is described in eight stages astanga-yoga, (?eight-membered Yoga?). Yama (?restraint?) denoting abstinence from injury (ahimsa), falsehood, stealing, lust, and avarice is the first stage; with niyama (?observance?), denoting cleanliness of body, contentment, austerity, study, and devotion to God, the second stage.

Maybe your doctor, chiropractor, physical therapist, or best friend told you Yoga would be good for you. You have heard so much about Yoga; it seems that Yoga is a "cure" for almost anything. The more you hear, the more confusing it is to understand what Yoga is all about.

One common thread among all Yoga practitioners is the desire to make the world around them a better place to live on all levels. Many Yoga teachers volunteer community time in selfless service or contribute to local charities.

Proper breathing contains the power to relieve stress, remove negativity, increase energy or even relax and meditate. With proper use of the breath all of this is easily attainable.

We tend to live on the run, geared to split-second timing, to noise, to newscasts every hour on the hour, to phones jangling and cars honking, subway trains, deadlines and keeping up with the Joneses and seldom sufficient rest, relaxation or sleep. None of this is conducive to peace of mind.

What's next; will we have to pay a toll to meditate? How can it be morally correct to gain a US patent on a 5,000 year old system founded in India? Who should have the right to claim Yoga?

What would you do if you had to substitute your Yoga class for an Aerobic Step class? What if one of the Step Aerobics students gave you a case of misplaced aggression because he or she was disappointed the Step Aerobics class was canceled?

What are the benefits to doing Iyengar yoga during pregnancy? Find out what to expect from pregnancy classes, and more.

You must realize that crowds of people who live in the cities tend to be stressed. Stress is not something new to humankind and Yoga is the best answer for a holistic approach to life. Cities, all around the world, and in general, have stressed populations in comparison to the countryside.