Q: What is yoga?

A: Yoga is a mix of stretching, strength, breathing, and mind body and posture awareness.

Q: Are there different types of yoga?

A: Yoga, like other fitness practices, has evolved over the years to include a practice for everyone from yoga for runners to yoga on a paddle board. Some of these types include: Hatha, Vinyasa, Ashtanga (power yoga), Iyengar, kundalini, Bikram (hot yoga), Viniyoga, Jivamukti, Forrest, Kripalu, Intergrul, Mksha, Restorative, Sivahanda, Yin Yoga, Chair Yoga, Acroyog, Family Yoga.

Hatha yoga is the most common form of yoga practiced. Hatha is most often used to describe gentle, basic classes. This is a good place to learn beginners' poses, relaxation techniques and become comfortable with yoga.

Q: What are the benefits of yoga?

A: With all the different styles of yoga currently practiced, the benefits are vast. From sport specific to mother and baby practices, all of the benefits may not even be known yet. Some include: increased mind body awareness, better posture, breath control, stress management, greater mobility, better movement patterning and core stability.

Q: Who can benefit from yoga?

A: Everyone.

Q: How physically demanding is yoga?

A: The demand of the practice is dependent on the type of yoga. This is why yoga can be for everyone. The type of yoga has to match the person's goals and physical abilities in order for the practice to be of most benefit.

Erin Bloodworth, CHFS, is an exercise physiologist with the Lehigh Valley Health Network Fitness Center. The LVHN Fitness Center offers a variety of yoga classes at the Cedar Crest and Muhlenberg sites.