Yoga...It's all the rage across the nation, but according one local instructor it has an image problem in the panhandle.

Paul zipes is working hard to change that image...One yoga class at a time.

And he thinks he's making progress.

Back in January he started hosting the free yoga class on the first Saturday of each month.

The January class had just 12 people and after nine months the class has a following of up to 92 yogi's.

Even Kristina Hamilton got a chance to participate in Zipe's yoga class and she was impressed with his teaching.

Now in order to keep the class fresh each month zipes trys to have a different teacher.

The location of the class is also changed each time.

Today's class was held on the second floor of the Visual Art's Center in downtown Panama City.

They've even done classes on the beach before.

Yoga's been proven to improve flexibility and strength while reducing stress.

Yoga Participant Karen Landsman says, "I like the workout I know people think probably that it's not as big of a workout, but it's more breathing and relaxing, but when I feel like I really get a workout that's what I like about it."

Yoga Instructor Paul Zipes, says "The benefit is generally health good health, but there could be benefits ranging from stronger muscles to more flexibility to even in some cases rehabbing an injury..bad back knee injury's are sometimes helped with just doing yoga."

To learn more about the free monthly yoga class go to http://yoga.meetup.com/601/.