Breathe in. Breathe out. Relax. Repeat.
Relieve stress, meditate and relax to enjoy life to the fullest. Yoga is the new rage in the 21st century for getting in-shape. Yoga opens the body, mind and spirit.
First developed 5,000 years ago in India as a Buddhist tradition. Buddhism became the sensation to practice religion and meditation.
The practice of yoga continues today for all ages, not just in a religious aspect. For college students, yoga can relax and tranquilze the body, mind and spirit, in between exams and homework assignments.
The Bowen-Thompson Student Union is sponsoring a yoga class for students and faculty.
Rosa Hanco, program coordinator for the Union, said that it was easier for the faculty and staff to have it in the Union because it is during their lunch hour and is close by.
“They mainly focus on meditation,” said Hanco. “A lot of yoga now is much more advanced.”
In the yoga class taught by Gaby Bidart-Bouzat, she tries to ensure her students the ultimate relaxation.
“I focus more on relaxation,” she says. “I’ve noticed in America that the yoga classes are more fast paced.”
The instructor is originally from Argentina and has been teaching yoga for 20 years.
Longer meditation and relaxation cool downs is the difference between Bidart-Bouzat herself and other instructors, she says. The cool down usually lasts approximately 15 minutes.
The yoga class usually lasts 45 minutes long with postures and stretches. Certain postures stimulate balance and increase activity in the endocrine system, Bidart-Bouzat said.
Deep breathing and focus is the central aspect of yoga for stress relieving circumstances. Yoga also focuses on the physical body by increasing flexibility and muscle tone.
The tools needed for yoga are mats, yoga blocks and wedges, blankets and bolsters, yoga bags, yoga straps, sandbags and yoga balls.
For clothing, wear form fitting shirts and pants, according to yoga.com.
Yoga is an exclusive workout for flexibility, meditation and relaxation. If in the mood to contemplate life, yoga will smooth out the rough edges into a more relaxed state of serenity.
The yoga classes will be held in 308 McMaster Room every Thursday from noon to 1p.m., starting the second session on Apr. 1 until Apr. 29.
The sessions are 6 weeks long for $40 with a maximum of 15 people.
