A:  Yoga  comes from the Sanskrit word for "yoke" or "union". It's a 6000 year old science of mind-body integration. As described by Patanjali, the yogi who first codified the practice, "Yoga is the stilling of the modifications of the mind...then the seer abides in his [or her] true nature"  There are many techniques to still the mind. Yoga postures (asana) help us focus on bodily sensations with detatched awareness. When we integrate the body and mind, we transcend the limits usually imposed by both our body and mind

Q: What if I'm not flexible?

A:No problem!  Perfection in a physical pose is not the goal of Yoga. It is not so much about developing  body flexibility as developing flexibility of your mind. What we practice on the mat--focus,relax, breathe, relax even more--is what we practice when life constantly puts us in uncomfortable positions.