BY SANDRA GUY

If ever an exercise could ease anxiety while boosting health, check the box labeled “yoga.”

Even experienced athletes, runners and weightlifters — men and women — say they were shocked when they started practicing yoga.

“I noticed I had more mobility, more control over my body and I could lift weights better,” said athletic trainer Dean Pohlman, author of “Yoga Fitness for Men.”

“I realized that many aspects of my fitness routine were under-developed, such as balance, flexibility and breathing,” he said of his realization of yoga’s benefits.

Yoga also can play a key role in overcoming everyday problems such as back pain, knee problems and injuries caused by sitting all day, Pohlman said.

The main poses — such as child’s pose, downward dog and warrior I — are easy to modify and provide a gentle way to ease into a morning exercise routine.

And though yoga may appear to be a low-intensity exercise, regular practice — four to five times a week for at least an hour — may help develop muscle tone and improve one’s food choices.

The best results flow from cardiovascular-based moves of at least 90 minutes, such as with Ashtanga, Vinyasa or Power Yoga, experts say.

The benefits occur because, in part, yoga can increase mindfulness, allowing people to become more aware of what they’re eating, with the idea of eliminating packaged and processed foods and choosing small portion sizes.

September is the perfect time to get started, since it’s National Yoga Awareness Month. The designation aims to promote yoga’s health benefits and to inspire a healthy lifestyle.