Yoga was never meant to be intimidating, exclusive or a fashion trend. Yoga has endured for five thousand years because everyone — no matter what their age or condition — can practice it. Each of us can experience its benefits for body, mind and spirit. These benefits include:stabilized blood pressurestronger bonesdecreased stresspain relieffewer injuriesincreased flexibilityimproved balancegraceful agingReal yoga for real peopleIn this get-you-going guide, gentle teacher Emily Slonina shares simple exercises and ideas that you can incorporate into your daily life right away while:sitting in a chairdoing houseworkworking at the officelying on a bedtravelingwatching TVPhotos of regular people — not advanced students or masters — show you how to modify poses as needed. Like many of us, some of these models have health issues such as chronic pain, heart disease, scoliosis, arthritis or fibromyalgia. That's okay, because yoga is not a “no-pain, no-gain” exercise or a competitive sport. Modified poses and chair yoga offer all the benefits that traditional poses do. With that in mind, Slonina shows you how to:breathe for easelisten to and work with your bodywarm-up and de-stressenjoy and modify classic posesexperience meditation and relaxation whenever, whereverWith yoga, a few minutes here and a few there add up. And because yoga is designed to help us develop balance and awareness, chances are that as you become more flexible in your body, you'll find your mind and spirit become more calm and resilient also. Remember, all kinds of people have practiced yoga for centuries because it just plain feels good. So start where you are. The benefits begin when you do.