Dozens of scientific trials of varying quality have been published on yoga. While there’s scope for more rigorous studies on yoga’s health benefits, most studies suggest that yoga is a safe and effective way to increase physical activity, especially strength, flexibility and balance. There’s some evidence that regular yoga practice is beneficial for people with high blood pressure, heart disease, aches and pains, including low back pain, depression and stress, although If you are pregnant, have a pre-existing health condition or have not exercised for a while: please consult your doctor before starting a yoga program.