For many of us Montrealers, the city can be a big source of anxiety. Trying to get through the slow-paced herds of people at metro stations alone can augment our stress levels, and that's without the irritating noise pollution that the city immerses us in on a daily basis. Give me a break, right?

There's just no better feeling than occasionally retreating from the city's hustle and bustle. Thankfully, you needn't travel far to find peace. Located at 5178 Boulevard Saint-Laurent, Montreal's Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre is not too far from Downtown Montreal.

Why Yoga? Because practicing it will significantly decrease your level of anxiety and improve your overall health. If you're a beginner, don't worry about it! The studio offers a free trial class, which is held every Sunday (5:00-6:30 p.m.). But is it worth attending? I tried it out early in March 2015 and it's absolutely worth going. Let me tell you all about my experience.

On the surface, Scott Simcoe is not a very impressive man. At twenty-six years old, he is shorter than average and slender, with reddish-blonde angel curls, soft blue eyes, and a gentle smile. He wears a mishmash of brand-name and vintage clothes that he finds in a variety of second-hand shops. On a warm day, he can most often be found sitting under a tree at the Mont Royal Park, blasting Indie Rock with his earphones on, a pair of light brown-tinted Ray-Ban aviators slipping down his nose.

What people don't usually see, however, are Scott's insatiable lust for life, his inspirational mind, and his incredibly warm heart.

Two years ago, I was sitting on a bench one bone-chilling January morning, smoking a cigarette. It was my first day at university; already overwhelmed from the great number of people on the campus, I absorbed the overall environment and let my newfound reality sink in. Like a bell, the voice of a young man shouting my name pulled me out of my preoccupation.