Class has been in session for three weeks, and many students have officially stopped working out. Most students have gone through their first round of tests and papers, and “stressed” seems to be an understatement. Many are desperately looking forward to Spring Break, when the hardest decision of the day will be picking what to watch on Netflix. But for now, students are barely finding time to eat in Brewer Dining Hall between the five-page paper and three pages of homework due the next day. Finding time to exercise is the least of their worries.
But now, the Wellness Center has set apart a time for students, faculty and staff to not only exercise, but relax with yoga.
Karen Hester, administrative assistant to the dean of the College of Arts and Science, has been in the 200-hour RYT training program at the Yoga Center of Jackson where she is encouraged to teach yoga. Hester reached out to Wellness Center Director, Brett Botta, to see if there were any opportunities to teach a class on campus. Many students had already inquired about group classes being offered, so Botta was more than willing to help set up the class.
“Karen is going through an intensive class where they are encouraged to teach while they’re getting certified,” Botta said. “So it’s kind of a win-win. It’s great for her and great for us.”
Hester said she is excited about teaching yoga at Union. She’s looking forward to showing people that yoga is not as intimidating as it seems.
“It can be really discouraging and scary, especially if you think you have to be at a certain fitness level or flexibility,” Hester said. “That’s not how yoga is. That’s not the kind of yoga I teach or practice.”
Her classes are not set up for the intermediate level, but for everyone.
“It’s just a general yoga class to enjoy and to get more fit because it influences all aspects of fitness,” she said.
She said two key benefits are that yoga is a great way to relax and relieve stress that has been built up through the week, and it helps you stay in shape and exercise.
The yoga class is every Thursday at 5 p.m. in the Bowld Student Commons gym and available to everyone on campus and even spouses. It’s $3 per students and $5 for faculty and staff.