Americans Embrace Ancient Practice of Yoga

March 26, 2005 — -- Kids are doing it in the Northeast. Soldiers are doing it in Iraq. Even some dogs in California are doing it.

It's yoga, the ancient practice that's taken the United States by storm, and it is becoming more accessible as more people try to stretch their way to serenity.

"There are currently 16.5 million people who practice yoga [in the United States]," said Lynn Lehmkuhl, an editor at Yoga Journal magazine. "And since 2002, that's been literally an increase of 43 percent, which is phenomenal."

And the practice is transforming from its origins to fit the needs of more Americans.

"It just grew naturally as more and more people discovered that you could be into yoga and you don't have to be Indian, you don't have to be Hindu, you don't have to change your diet to feel all these fantastic benefits," said Cyndy Lee, an instructor at Om Yoga Center in New York.

Practioners say the benefits of yoga are both mental and physical.

"You can get a tight butt, an open heart and a calm mind all in an hour and a half," Lee said.

Today's yoga comes in many different forms. There is yoga for expectant mothers, and baby yoga once your bundle of joy arrives.

Yoga is practiced by soldiers in Iraq, and in jail where it helps prisoners deal with stress.

There's Bikram yoga, where the temperature is turned up to make you sweat, and yoga for Christians.

Lehmkuhl says yoga is different than other workouts, especially for stressed-out Americans.

"Even for the most competitive people, it's a great relief and release to do something that's truly for you, and you're not in competition with anybody or anything," she said.

That appeals to high-powered celebrity yogis like Madonna, Sting and Gwyneth Paltrow.

But perhaps the person who has become the face of yoga in the United States is supermodel Christy Turlington.

Turlington, 36, says she began practicing yoga when she was 18 years old. "I would say it's given me a kind of focus and direction in my life, a sense of, I can do anything," she said.