SP Residents take part in the weekly yoga class. Courtesy of Chelsea He and Velibor Misic

Due to the large success of the weekly yoga class last semester, a new class is open for the spring semester. If you’re imagining this class as the SP multipurpose room filled with people holding the strange poses like pretzels on yoga mats barefoot, you are only half right. True, yoga is generally practiced barefoot and the yoga mat is usually the only thing you need, but unfortunately not many people are flexible and/or strong enough to actually twist and hold up the pretzel pose.

Then what do you actually do? What is yoga all about?

Originally, yoga was more of a philosophical activity than just a physical exercise. It is one of the six orthodox schools of Hindu philosophy, and is all about “stillness of mind”.  The physical training we usually associate with yoga is only one of the many ways to achieve this state of mind. The physical training part of yoga was designed to help the disciples to sit and meditate for longer periods of time.  Russell Simmons said that “A push-up is not a muscle”.  Like a push-up, yoga is only a tool to help us build up a muscle.

SP’s yoga class was my first experience with yoga, and I appreciate how it helps me relieve the stress of daily life in graduate school and keeps me healthy enough to counteract the many hours that I spend crouched over in front of my computer. The poses invigorate the small muscles that we don’t usually use while sitting around, and holding those poses for some time strengthens the body. Breathing is another part of the exercise, which calms down the mind and brings the focus to your inside from the busy outside world.

From my experience, the class covers everyone with a different level of exposure to yoga, from a novice to a long-time yogi. The instructor provides you with a set of options for one pose, so you can try the different options until you find a comfortable level of stretching. Yoga class is about listening to your own body and doing what is good for it.

If you want to try it out, please come down and join us in the multipurpose room, from 4 to 5 pm every Sunday!  Also, SP inventory now offers a number of new yoga mats for residents who would like to join the class but don’t have the mats.

SP is also preparing another fitness class for the residents; details will be announced soon.

By Stephanie (Ahhyun) Nam (SPEC VP of Information)