Bus passengers in Israel's second largest city are learning to relax while on their way to work. The initiative is taken by Miri Harovi, a 21-year veteran yoga teacher, who guides passengers to perform a set of relaxation exercises while sitting.

According to reports, the passengers perform breathing exercises and those which involve movement of upper body parts as Harovi directs them through a microphone.

"I think that because of our history of terror on buses," Harovi tells the Associated Press, referring to increasing number of suicide attacks that have targeted crowded buses. "It's very important to do yoga to relax and to show everyone that life is stronger than the fear."

Harovi says she suddenly came up with the idea and contacted the Tel Aviv bus company which abruptly agreed. For the time being, the yoga bus has run every Tuesday for three weeks.

However, Harovi, who along with her husband, Gilad Harovi, have worked for years to promote yoga on Israeli television and in public schools, believes the program will expand.