The power of yoga practice

As the world's oldest system of personal development devised in India over 5,000 years ago, yoga remains a brilliant way for all ages and body types to tone up and energise the body, release pent up stress and anxiety and reconnect with oneself. Rather than focusing on physical transformation or contortionism, calming the mind is its main goal. The Indian yoga guru TKV Desikachar puts it charmingly: "A lot of people can do a beautiful posture, but their life is a big headache." Effective yoga is measured, he says, by "how it enhances our relationships and promotes clarity and peace of mind."

As serious as this may sound, for most of us it makes sense that regular movement and stretching, effective breathing and relaxation, positive thinking, self-awareness, a healthy diet and having respect for ourselves and others will help us lead, fuller, more nourishing and less stressful lives. Most yoga classes today tend to concentrate primarily on moving and stretching the body, but it's especially satisfying if you can find a teacher who gives you a chance to go deeper into the practice - either for weekly classes, a day workshop or on a retreat.

So which style should you choose? Hatha yoga is sometimes used to describe a more gentle yoga practice, but ashtanga vinyasa, sivananda and iyengar yoga are all examples of this classic style, which was developed by the ancient rishis of India to balance and unite the masculine (Ha, or sun) and feminine (Tha, or moon) energies in the mind and body. It's now a generic term for the practice of yoga asanas, pranayama, mudras (hand or body gestures) and bandhas (internal muscular locks), which all seek to stabilise the mind and body and harness energy, our life force that is said to lie like a coiled serpent at the base of our spine.

Whether you choose hatha, satyananda, kundalini or something more contemporary, all good yoga has the same goal, so don't let yourself be daunted by the somewhat confusing mix of styles around, and be prepared to experiment as you progress.

The teacher will make or break your experience. The best have been influenced by a range of styles, and will bring their own secret ingredient to a class, as well as sound knowledge of anatomy to help prevent injuries. Feel free to ask about training, though bear in mind that learning to be a yoga teacher isn't like training to be a fitness instructor - as well as having qualifications, teachers will draw on their experience and depth of their own practice.

After some time you may want to start practising your own yoga at home. Ask your teacher to put together a basic range of postures that suit your body. Over the years, I have honed a routine that can be as flexible as time allows - some mornings I'll do just 15 minutes, and when I'm less busy, this goes up to an hour. I find it sets me up beautifully for whatever my day offers me.