First, let's look at a few stereotypes. Yoga is not just for young, flexible, been-to-India types who like to wear leotards or sit cross-legged in airport lounges. Yoga teachers throughout the country will testify that grannies, pregnant women and the occasional stiff and overweight middle-aged man practise yoga alongside the young flexible and not-so-flexible females.
Nor is yoga something that draws one into a cultist elite where - once initiated - members can no longer communicate with the rest of us. It is, however, a discipline which demands the participants free their minds and bodies of everyday concerns and enter a space where they can explore their being in a holistic fashion - esoteric as that may sound, the practice of yoga is on the increase and almost every city and large town throughout Ireland runs classes.
Apart from the obvious relaxation and stress-relieving value it offers, yoga has been found to relieve problems including lower back pain, arthritis, asthma and depression. Convinced of its use as a complementary approach in the treatment of such conditions, five yoga teachers have come together to establish a Dublin-based yoga therapy and training centre.
The five - Marie Lennon, Helen Morrow, Maureen Nightingale, Linda Southgate and Elma Toland - have all taken training courses run by the Yoga Biomedical Trust based in the Royal London Homeopathic hospital in Great Ormond Street.
Drawing elements from different yoga schools, they explain the three essential elements are relaxation, postures and meditation. Each element is used in a different way, depending on the complaint.
Asthma, for instance, is relieved by following a very specific set of breathing techniques and postures which open up the chest area. Strong leg postures and relaxation are deemed to be of value to sufferers of depression, while arthritis is helped by movement of the joints. Specific breathing techniques can also be applied to pain relief during labour or other short-term acute pain.
"Anyone who starts a yoga programme becomes aware of what are and aren't healthy movements and this applies to all conditions," Elma Toland explains. "It is also important for people to learn to be with their pain, not to push it away. Only then will they understand why it is there in the first place," she adds.
Individualised yoga programmes are devised by the yoga therapist, after consultation about the sufferer's problem. Individuals can then either join a yoga class which allows them to pay special attention to these specific movements and postures which will help the ailment or follow their programme regularly at home.
The yoga therapists stress that they are not permitted to diagnose problems although they will understand medical diagnoses. They are also keen to point out that yoga therapy is complementary to orthodox treatment and not an alternative. A consultation fee is about £25 per session.
After an injury, many people will subconsciously guard that part of their body. "What often happens is that people lose confidence in their bodies when something happens - physically or even emotionally - and yoga can bring back that confidence in a very gentle and safe way. This is how the body heals," says Linda Southgate.
Unlike other complementary treatments such as acupuncture, yoga therapy demands both time and effort from the individual. Words like self-empowerment and regaining control over your life are frequently used in this context. "It does require a personal commitment of about 15 minutes a day," Marie Lennon explains.
However, for those who hate exercises, the yoga therapist will suggest simple movements (most of which are quite discreet) that can be done while waiting for bus, washing up the dishes or whatever. "Beginning your day with yoga will allow you to slide into the day rather than getting out with a bang and a grumble," says Helen Morrow.
"Older people with restricted movements can even benefit from simple leg exercises before they get out of bed in the mornings," Lennon adds.
Learning how to align your body correctly, whether sitting, standing or lying down and when doing exercises can in itself have a powerful effect. The therapists claim that anyone who begins treatment will feel the benefits immediately, which they say gives many people great motivation to continue.
Yoga therapists can be contacted through the Yoga Therapy and Training Centre, 20 Auburn Drive, Killiney, Co Dublin. Tel: 01- 2352120.