I’m a jock. Always have been, always will. And like many jocks, I’ve suffered through my share of back problems. Well, what if I was to tell you that those recurrent back problems, and many other physical ailments, could all go away? On top of that -- a brand new bod -- you would meet lots of women and maybe even find your bliss in the process. "Sign me up, Jacques!"

The fact is, our lives are very often out of whack -- our balance about as solid as what’s floating in Pamela Anderson’s breasts. Why? Because it’s easy getting dizzy within a society that always chides us to “Go! Go! Go! Go! Go!” without ever allowing us to stop and watch the Baywatch reruns. Or: taking the time to check in with our mind, body and spirit. Which, in a nutshell, is what yoga is all about : unifying these three elements through a series of physical exercises designed to center ourselves. Om.

I first got on the mat because of my own B & B problems (back & balance). I had hit a couple of life’s speed bumps, going too fast, and I needed something to slow myself down. I also wanted to strengthen my core, for the back support, because I play a lot of hoop. And it’s not something I wanted to undertake in a Los Angeles gym surrounded by wannabe fame-whores and future Governors of California.

For once, in terms of athletics, I didn’t want to compete with anybody. I just needed a safe environment in which to begin the complete overhaul on myself.

I was also getting to the age where I was outgrowing bars, and escort hotlines, as a means of meeting women.

Note: In the eight years since I’ve been practicing, I’ve met more quality babes than in eight years of clubbing. I’ve also learned more real things about the opposite sex -- yes, they like to shop -- than I ever did from the Hugh Hefner School of Bunny Worship.

Speaking of the rich and famous, hippity-hopping down the yogi’s trail, the list of famous practitioners is endless, from Sting to David Duchovny to former New York Mets’ Al Leiter. “They think people who do yoga are freaks who sit in a room and hum. But this is a great workout," says Leiter.

The main impetus for athletes to practice is because yoga increases the range of motion, thereby limiting the risk of injury.

The word yoga itself is derived from one of the world’s oldest languages: Sanskrit. It’s believed the practice was developed thousands of years ago in India by Hindu priests . These ancient yogis based the development of their yogic rituals on the observation of animals. They noticed that the bodies of the animals were almost always in perfect unison: they ate when they were hungry, they slept when they were tired and they exhibited little fear or anxiety. (Sign me up, Jacques!)

In terms of our current maelstrom of fear and anxiety (thank you 911 and the Bush Administration!), yoga certainly can provide an escape from the incessant color-coded terrorist propaganda. It has also been proven to be an affective form of treatment for more serious issues, from lowering blood pressure to helping cure insomnia.

When starting out, no matter how studly you are, begin at Level 1. You may be strong enough to withstand the physicality of an advanced class, but you’ll be lost when it comes to structure, and you’ll end up looking like a fool. Remember: Before you learn to fly, you gotta have wings. That's way profound, I know.

There are many types of classes, some far more credible than others. They span from the soon-to-be Starbucks of yoga, Bikram, to the more traditional Hatha, and onto bastardized forms like Disco Yoga or Karma Sutra Yoga. Or, see "Doga" in our Useless Stuff.

You’ll want to find a studio that offers a variety of classes so you can see what works best for you: some teachers may annoy you, some you may want to fall in love with, and still others may take you on a magical mystery tour.

Because yes, in many ways, yoga does become the drug of choice. Talk to me after your Savasana pose at the end of class. You can also ask me what the simple key to life is then.

I’ll tell you to find ways to chip away at your ego, and all the software that's been infecting your system, so you can merge with your core energy -- that essence you were born with, the place of perfect balance. Because it’s never too late to defrag your soul drive, and save your game in the process. Once again: Om.