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At 72, Mary Lou Buck, displays the strength, flexibility and spirituality she says comes from practicing yoga in Charlotte, North Carolina. Buck guides an advanced yoga class at Yoga for Life, one of Charlotte's oldest private yoga studios. Buck, who founded the studio and sold it earlier this year, has taught yoga for 30 years and will continue as an instructor at Yoga For Life.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In the early 1970s, mainstream America was a long way from embracing yoga.

Most people were wary of the exotic-sounding postures and philosophy rooted in ancient eastern tradition. It was considered a bit of a hippie thing.

Back then, Mary Lou Buck was a young mother in Charlotte, N.C., who was often tense and had trouble sleeping. "I was a good little girl who had to do everything right," she recalls. "The tension went right to my shoulders."

She'd taught swimming for years, but was looking for another exercise that would help her feel better. One yoga class at her church and she was hooked.

Buck, now a petite 72-year-old with silver hair, would become one of Charlotte's pioneer yoga instructors. After teaching and studying for years, she opened the city's second private studio, Yoga for Life in Dilworth, in 1998. Phyllis Rollins opened the 8th Street Studio believed to be the first, in 1993.

"Mary Lou has been a fixture in the yoga community for many years," Rollins said. "She has introduced so many people to yoga."

Though she sold her space this year, Buck plans to keep teaching until students stop flocking to her classes.

Buck has watched yoga blossom. It's been labeled anti-Christian and is often misidentified as sprouting from the Hindu and Buddhist religions.

Though yoga's precise history is unknown, evidence of yoga postures was recorded as early as 3,000 B.C. and its origins lie in the East, according to the American Yoga Association.

Yoga started catching on again in the 1990s; today more than 15 million people practice yoga, according to a study published in Yoga Journal.

"It's really boomed in the last 10 years," Buck said. "A lot of people have come to yoga to deal with stress; they want to exercise but want something a little more spiritual."

Buck begins her classes by ringing Tibetan bells, welcoming her students to the moment. Then, with sunlight flooding the purple-carpeted studio, she guides them through salutations to the moon or sun. Her low, soothing voice leads the class between poses and breathing exercises while peaceful music plays and scented candles flicker in the corner.

"Be aware of the love that surrounds you," she said softly during an advanced yoga class, arms lifted over her head and eyes closed.

With a degree in physical education from UNC Greensboro, Buck calls swimming her original passion. The sport, coupled with time spent hiking, prepared her to teach yoga.

"I was used to movement," she said. "I had the body knowledge and I felt prepared and could keep my students safe."

Drawn to yoga's holistic nature and union of mind, body and spirit, Buck began watching instructors on television and taking classes herself in the early 1970s, all while teaching swimming and raising three children. After training in 1980, Buck began teaching yoga at the YWCA and Central Piedmont Community College. She earned her Kripalu teaching certification in 1987.

After teaching in various settings, Buck wanted a space to call her own, which meant a large studio with mirrors lining the front wall, windows on the right wall and natural light.

"It started out very simply," Buck said. "I just called on some former students to teach."

Debbie George is a longtime student of Buck's and instructor at Yoga for Life in Dilworth.

Buck said she is concerned that as yoga becomes trendier, people may be deemphasizing the original philosophy of inner balance. More extreme types of yoga have been cropping up lately, including hip hop yoga and yoga for dogs.

"I feel that many people have gotten away from the essence of yoga," she said. "Some are putting the emphasis on looking good and wearing pretty clothes."

After an hour and a half, she closed a recent Yoga II class with a 10-minute shavasana, or relaxation period. Students, stretched across their mats, covered their eyes and released deep breaths as Buck offered peaceful instruction for them to carry throughout the day.

New owner Karen Williams hopes to carry on Buck's tradition. Yoga for Life is scheduled to relocate to 1410 W. Morehead Street in early August. Additions include two yoga studios and wellness practitioners.

For information on classes and instructors, visit www.yogaforlifedilworth.com or call 704-344-YOGA (9642) Beginning in August, visit www.yogaforlifecharlotte.com

For information on the different types of yoga: www.americanyogaassociation.org/