By Sarah Jeglum

In:Site Staff Reporter

To some, it’s an art. To others, a workout regimen. And for others, it’s a way to connect the body and the mind.

In all its various forms, yoga, an ancient Indian practice, has become more popular and more available to the everyday person in recent years.

In February 2008, the Yoga Journal released a study about the popularity of yoga in America. According to the study, about 7 percent of Americans — or almost 16 million people — practice yoga in the United States. Of the people who don’t already practice yoga, 8 percent — or about 18 million — said they are interested in practicing yoga, which is three times as many as in the mid-90s.

Mandy Vick, a yoga instructor at the Intramural Activities Building at the University of Washington, has been practicing yoga for about nine years and has been teaching for about a year and a half.

“I’ve always had something inside of me that wanted to teach and share that with other people, so I guess sharing what I guess I was receiving from my own practice,” she said.

Tim Patmont, a senior who is taking one of Vick’s classes, enjoys the physical benefits of the practice and said he plans to make yoga part of his life in the future.

“For me it was the feeling you get after doing yoga,” he said. “It’s like an energy rush which is unlike any other workout you can really do. I know there’s other workouts that clear your head, but this actually gives you energy.”

Patmont isn’t alone. The study also indicated that almost half of the Americans currently practicing yoga began doing so to improve their overall health. In 2003, only about 6 percent of people practiced for that reason.

Vick teaches students of all ages and ability levels, and characterized yoga as just another part of each person’s life journey.

“Everybody’s on their own journey and its great that they’re all here and showing up, and little bits of that will get it but it may take them a longer time to open to that,” she said. “They’re here and they’re practicing and little by little their cells are going to start to get a little bit more spacious.”

Whether for exercise, relaxation or meditation, the practice offers something for everyone who wants to try it.

“It’s there for you when you need it,” said Vick. “I mean not to say that you should only go for it when you need it or when you feel like you need it, but I guess it’s always there and it’s something that is within, and it offers a connection to what is real. I mean, it’s your soul.”

The Seattle area has plenty to offer by way of yoga studios, many which offer free classes to first-time attendees.