To many people, the word yoga conjures up the image of a long-haired, bearded Indian man sitting in the lotus position and chanting. It has been increasingly in the public eye, helped by celebrities such as Madonna, Geri Halliwell and Gwyneth Paltrow singing its praises.

Reported improvements such as toned upper arms, trim stomach and firm thighs and bums have encouraged them to take up yoga, but for the uninitiated and uninformed, what is it all about? Yoga originated in India around 6,000 years ago. The practice sometimes seems to have an air of mystery about it, which perhaps prevents many people from trying a class. It can be seen as new-age, 'alternative' or a bit of a fad in the exercise world. In reality it is a holistic practice that benefits body, mind and spirit.

People take up yoga for a surprisingly wide range of reasons: to gain flexibility, to tone-up or lose weight, to improve their ability to relax or to prepare their body for a physical event such as childbirth. Regular practice of yoga will improve your general fitness and body shape, make you stronger, calmer and more able to cope with the stresses and strains of life. Types of Hatha (or physical) yoga is broken down into eight stages or limbs.

Traditionally these are followed progressively to reach Samadhi, the last stage, where the spirit is liberated and becomes 'at one' with the universe. Yoga practised in the west mainly encapsulates stages three and four. Stage three (Asana) is the practise of the postures or poses and stage four (Pranayama) is rhythmic control of the breath.

There are many styles of Hatha yoga currently being taught, all of which have slightly different emphases.

• Astanga yoga is the form of yoga currently enjoying the most attention. Also known as power yoga, the moves or transitions between asanas are performed at a higher speed than usual, thus providing an aerobic workout, missing in the alternative yoga forms.
• Iyengar yoga, based on the teachings of BKS Iyengar from Pune, India, concentrates on the postural alignment of the body and limbs. The practice makes use of ropes, blocks and belts to aid in the attainment of the asanas.
• Sivananda yoga focuses on the flow of energy in the spine. This style is built around a specific sequence of twelve postures or poses.

What to look for in a yoga class

Yoga includes elements such as stretching, balancing and posturing - the combination of which can seem like a contortionist act to the newcomer. However, a good yoga teacher will tailor the postures to suit the different abilities within a class. Some classes will focus heavily on meditation and visualisation, but for others, meditation simply refers to the period of cool-down or relaxation at the end of the session. Controlled breathing is a hugely important part of the practice.

Yoga is suitable for both men and women and can be enjoyed by the full range of fitness abilities. Even if you have trouble touching your toes, yoga can still be open to you. Classes can be found by looking in the telephone book or by recommendation from friends or work colleagues.

There are numerous teachers in the larger cities and a few are listed below. Try out one or two sessions before committing yourself to a lengthy course, as your relationship with your yoga teacher is one of the most important factors in your enjoyment and progress of yoga.

Where to do yoga in Switzerland

Check www.yogafinder.com for more listings of yoga classes by city in Switzerland.

GENEVA

Innercityoga
Rue de Rive 3, 1204
Tel: +41 22 310 35 35
Web: www.innercityoga.com        
Style: various     
   
Yoga Teacher       
Geneva centre (near Rue de Lyon, close to Gare Cornavin), Geneva
Contact: Alex    
Tel: +41 76 304 55 34
Web: www.yoga-from-a-to-z.com/yoga-in-geneva.html        
Style: Hatha    

cloud9yoga
Contact: Katherine Gubbins       
Tel: +41 79 292 77 45
Web: www.cloud9yoga.ch     
Style: Hatha, Khalsa way prenatal
   
Entre Ciel & Terre - Atelier de Yoga
Route de l'Etraz 1267 Vich, Geneva, Vaud 1267
Contact: Jessica Magnin
Tel: +41 22 364 36 36
Web: www.atelier-yoga.ch   
Style: theme-oriented Vinyasa flow, Hatha   

Au Centre de Soi
ZI de Gingins sur Nyon, Geneva 1276
Contact: Lila Catherine Bruschweiler
Tel: +41 22 369 02 15 or +41 79 458 00 39
Style: Hatha, Kripalu, Yoga therapy, restorative     

Centre de Yoga Sivananda           
1 Rue des Minoteries, Geneva 1205
Tel: +41 22 328 03 28
Web: www.sivananda.org/geneva
Style: Hatha, Sivananda     

Iyengar Yoga      
Les Paquis, Geneva
Contact: Janine Eckermann
Tel: +41 76 583 30 14     
Style: Iyengar                 

Geneva Meditation
Paquis, Geneva
Contact: Slava Dodonu         
Tel: +41 76 517 2325
Web: www.genevameditation.ch
Style: Yoga and meditation, Karma, Nada    

Yoga for your body, heart and mind
Contact: Alexey (Mahadev)       
Tel: +41 76 304 55 34     
Web: www.body-heart-and-mind-yoga.com    
Style: classic Hatha
   
Yogadima
42 Rue de Lyon, Geneva
Contact: Pascale Barbara Ullmann
Tel: +41 22 741 18 03     
Web: www.yogadima.ch    
Style: various

Yogapractice      
Place de la Navigation, Geneva 1201
Contact: Thomas Humpert
Tel: +41 79 305 21 84
Web: www.yogapractice.ch
Style: Iyengar

ZURICH