2 . Cat-Cow, Crow, Downward-facing dog and Pigeon: these names might sound like animals but they are actually yoga poses.     1    

What is yoga?

Yoga is exercise for the body and mind. It combines moving your body into different positions while focusing on your breathing. Yoga was first practiced around 5, 000 years ago in what is now northern India, where it was linked to the religion of Hinduism. For example, a yoga sequence was developed to greet Surya, the Hindu god of the Sun.    2    There are many different types of yoga but one of the most common is hatha yoga. This combines traditional yoga movements with breathing exercises.

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Yoga encourages you to connect your mind and body and to link your existence to the wider universe. Many people find this helpful because they are reminded of the “bigger picture”, which can make their worries or unhelpful thoughts feel more manageable. Yoga's focus on breathing and movement can be calming.     4    Elysia, aged seventeen, agrees. “I love yoga because it gives me peace and time to think,” she says.

What if my body isn't bendy?

Yoga isn’t just for gymnasts.     5    According to NHS England, yoga can make your muscles stronger, improve your flexibility and lead to better balance and coordination. Many professional athletes and sportspeople practice yoga. This convinced Joseph, aged eight, to try it. He told The Week Junior, “I wanted to try yoga because I love tennis and I know that Novak Djokovic says it helps him be the best and stops him from getting injured.”