BY HALEY PENKALA, reporter

All around the world, people practice the art of yoga.It involves steeling the mind against outside distractions in order to be at peace with the body.

Yoga originates from the ancient cultures of Hinduism and Buddhism. The ancient ways of yoga have long evolved to become what is now practiced in the United States.

The yoga practiced in the United States is focused mainly on the physical poses, breathing and meditation aspects of the art instead of the spiritual exploration, philosophical reflection and creative expression, according to yoga instructor Lynn Meredith.

Meredith teaches her own class “Yoga…with Lynn” Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. in the Elburn Community Center.

In the ancient cultures, the poses were practiced only to help the yogis sit longer during meditation without discomfort.

The poses are now viewed as the entire idea of yoga, instead of working the mind.

One of the many purposes of yoga is to still the mind and body. Doing yoga helps to quiet the internal distractions, which allows the mind to focus toward a physical element like a pose or breathing.

“As more and more people begin to practice, they start to see that the body and mind are shifted by more than the poses, but that the breath and meditation create a different state of mind,” said Meredith.

Stress can be hard on students of all ages. Doing yoga can help relieve some of that stress, and help students relax.

“[Yoga] gets rid of all your stress and keeps you loose,” said senior Alex Lyons.

Yoga can also help with other health issues such as depression, anxiety, heart disease, diabetes, back pain and arthritis. Athletes can do yoga to keep their muscles flexible.

“It helps out for sports and everything,” said freshman Austin Parks.

Like any other sport, yoga requires constant   practice. One class a week may not be enough, and daily practice is imperative for improvement.

Practice will lead to a stronger core, peaceful mind and excellent posture.

“You improve through your mind’s commitment to do something good for yourself, not because you worked a particular muscle,” said Meredith.

Anyone can do yoga. There are no basic skills that are needed, only the ability to control the mind and breathe.

“All you need to do is show up, be willing to direct your mind, and breathe. The key rule is to listen to your body and respect what it can do that day,” said Meredith