By LAUREN WEST

NATCHEZ — Initially used as a form of religious worship in India, yoga has gained momentum in recent years and has become popular around the world, even in Natchez.

On Thursday, locals gathered at Satya Yoga Wellness Center, 713 Main St., to celebrate International Yoga Day with 108 salutations.

The free local event recognized the holiday and the Summer Solstice, and millions of people around the world also celebrated Thursday by attending similar events.

At Satya Yoga Wellness Center on Thursday, people of all ages and physical abilities participated by doing 108 salutations — the number 108 is a sacred number in Hinduism, but it also represents the number of pressure points in the human body.

The event promoted not just the physical benefits of yoga, but also the spiritual benefits, local organizers said.

“It’s a way to reflect on your life and think about what you want to improve,” said Renée Seab, an instructor at Satya. “It’s about letting go and moving on.”

Yoga has been shown to lower blood pressure, boost the immune system, improve flexibility, build muscle, and alleviate back pain, according to Yoga Journal.

Even children participated in the local event, and Satya instructor Stephanie Daly said practicing yoga helps children build self-confidence.

“Yoga gets them to be more mindful of their bodies,” Daly said, adding she has seen a dramatic improvement in self-esteem among her teenage clientele.

Daly said she plans to host a summer yoga camp for teens July 16-20 at Satya.

Yoga is not just a form of physical exercise but is a way of learning to breathe mindfully, Seab said.

“If you can breathe, you can do yoga,” Seab said. “The single most important thing about yoga is not learning the pose, but mastering your breath.”

Since starting yoga three years ago, Eric Junkin, 61, of Natchez, said he has developed more upper body strength and learned to control his breath, which has helped him with bicycling.