Fit & Healthy

Among northern Illinois' sprawling fields, on an archetypal Heartland main street in Princeton, men and women gather daily in the Anata Yoga Studio owned and operated by Janna Parker. They bring their mats, they dress for comfort, and they're ready for Janna's tranquil voice to guide them fluidly from one pose to the next. In 1994 Janna brought yoga to Princeton. Today four other teachers hold yoga classes in the town of about 7,000.

"Yoga is becoming more mainstream," Janna says. "All different kinds of people are showing up in class."One thing they have in common, despite differences in everything from age to job to physical ability: They've found positive personal connections -- physical, mental or both -- with the discipline of yoga. The term means "union," Janna says, and the link it provides between mind and body often speaks to Americans looking for a respite from fast-paced living.

Regular practice brings plenty of physical benefits. Over time, yoga strengthens and tones muscles. It's been shown to lower blood pressure and heart rate, and reduce the effects of stress. Many doctors agree that its stretching component can help prevent injuries.

Yoga developed in India centuries ago as a way to use meditation, breathing and poses to attain body tone and mental focus. In the U.S., interest grew steadily through the 1990s. Today more than 15 million Americans practice yoga.

Classes offered across the Midwest draw all types. Male and female, young and old, fitness amateurs and pros -- like the Chicago Bulls. In 1998, word spread that coach Phil Jackson required yoga of his team -- stars Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman included -- to add focus and flexibility to their games. Yoga became the rage in the city. "It's still growing like crazy," says Sharon Steffensen, editor of the guide Yoga Chicago. "New studios are opening every month."

Most sessions range from one to two hours, and instructors recommend at least one session per week (though faster progress is likely with more). Yoga can easily be done at home once learned, but because some poses could cause injury if done improperly, it's a good idea to start with an instructor, or at least a video.

Lynn Pigott, an industrial engineer turned yoga teacher in Chicago, says that yoga is about the balance of strength and flexibility. She says one major benefit to many is that it helps lengthen and strengthen muscles, which can reduce aches and pains.

But the most important thing to Lynn is the peaceful frame of mind that yoga brings: "It makes me feel good about the other things I do."

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