Everyday millions of Americans surrounded by spandex-clad hard-bodies, wall-mounted plasma screens and heart-thumping techno music practice an ancient Indian spiritual art.

They tune out the distractions, take a deep breath and pose.

Then they hold it.

“Yoga gives me better perspective when I’m out in the world,” said Lisa Llewellyn, a Columbia resident who has practiced yoga for about six months.

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Llewellyn is one of about 16.5 million U.S. adults in yoga classes, according to the Harris Interactive Service Bureau.

At a recent hourlong class at the Columbia Gym in Clarksville, 10 adults stretched, posed and breathed along with instructor Jonathan Gardner.

They started off with seated postures and gradually worked into more rigorous standing positions, like deep lunges, that require full-body strength and balance.

Gardner stresses that his students only do what feels comfortable for them that day, reflective of an Eastern philosophy that stresses acceptance of where we are at this moment.

People take up yoga for different reasons, Gardner said.

“You can lose 5 pounds, or you can try to find spiritually,” he said. “It gives you tools they can use to bring more balance into your life.”

The Columbia Association has been offering yoga classes for 10 years, and now offers multiple classes each week at its sports facilities. Other mind-body classes, such as tai chai and Pilates, are also offered.

“What we see in Columbia is that as the baby boomers have gotten older, people are looking for a kinder, gentler exercise,” said Bob Bellamy, director of operations for the sports and fitness division of the Columbia Association.

Diana Cantrelle, an opera singer who lives in Columbia, said she has noticed improvements in her breathing and posture since she started practicing yoga,

“After class, I feel like everything is lined up,” she said. “I can tell when I’m not taking it.”