Yoga may be recession proof

(NBC) - Yoga is simple or elaborate, depending how far you want to go. Western medicine accepts it, believing it benefits patients both physically and emotionally.

"Because of the holiday season which is inherently joyful, but also inherently stressful for many people, combined with the current economic situation, it is sort of this perfect storm of a stress sandwich that people are really experiencing in their lives," said Jennifer Ellen Mueller, yoga instructor.

Consumers are taking up this ancient practice, hoping to find relief.

"When we were worried that people would start turning away, and really people are starting to come back because they're realizing that if things outside aren't great, then maybe you can make things inside good," said Matt Newman, yoga instructor.

Grab and buy for less to stay within that shrinking budget, showing that holiday happy face, while agonizing inside. The psychological tug-o-war is tearing people apart.

"I think it's a point of coming back to ourselves and finding that inner peace," said Sharlene Ashton, yoga enthusiast.

"I've been able to continue to remain peaceful through all of this and to have confidence in our ability to move through it," said Peter Cobabe, yoga enthusiast.

You do not have to stand on your head to practice yoga. If you are stressed out while you are shopping, just give yourself a hug, chin on the chest and shrug the shoulders. That relieves tension on the upper body.

"You can just absolutely take the hands behind the back, do a nice deep stretch and big lengthening in and then releasing it out," said Mueller.

After this move, it is bye-bye stress in the neck, back and chest. Physical movement, breathing and meditation all sound like things Wall Street could use.