Taking up yoga helps some students find balance in their lives and come to a better place of self-acceptance.
“Yoga is a very well-rounded form of exercise that focuses on balance, flexibility, muscle tone and stress relief,” said Cameron Harrison, a geology major.
Harrison is currently enrolled in the yoga class for the third time and plans to continue registering as long as it keeps fitting into his schedule.
“It can help your performance in whatever you do,” Harrison said. “Yoga is a very positive form of exercise and philosophy that emphasizes finding balance between mind, body and spirit. And I have learned that anyone can do yoga.”
Anyone can do yoga and, just like Harrison, anyone can apply what they learn to their experiences outside of the classroom.
“As I practice yoga I learn a lot about patience and living in the moment,” Harrison said. “You learn to breathe through the practice, having a healthy workout and experience. This can be applied to life. Instead of reacting negatively in situations experienced in life or forcing things to happen, one can just breath through patiently.”
Yoga instructor Heather Wing has been teaching yoga for about seven years now. Her favortie part about teaching here is when students are able to find peace of mind in other areas of their lives.
“I have had students report that they are able to find that place of self-acceptance in addition to stronger body alignment,” Wing said.
Students can learn to clear their minds from yoga and even use that in a spiritual aspect.
“The benefit is learning to quiet their mind and that mental chatter,” Wing said. “To let their mind be quiet and ultimately receive greater revelation and understanding from the Spirit.”
Taking time to learn new yoga moves and breathing exercises can also bring balance to other workout routines.
Nathan Nannenga, a finance major from Oregon, has seen benefits from adding yoga to his already active lifestyle.
“I think there’s a lot of importance to having a balanced workout,” Nannenga said. “Yoga helps balance with a lot of flexibility and overall well-being and getting a good workout in. Having that balance is a great thing.”
Yoga can bring peace of mind and balance to any lifestyle.
“I started to look forward to my yoga class,” Nannenga said, “to have that break from the world and get away.”
