Honors Yoga Workshop

Honors students got a little bent out of their usual shapes and heights in order to relieve stress on December 8, 2011 in the Goldstein Fitness Center.  That is to say, we took part in the Honors Yoga Event!  For an hour during the afternoon, the aerobics room was packed with mats, blocks, yoga straps, and students with varying yoga experience and flexibility.

Professor Lauri Nemetz, the event instructor, was kind and accommodating to everyone.  As one of her regular students who isn’t always perfect with the poses she tries to teach us, I can say she’s always that way—very welcoming to even the most unenthusiastic and unnatural yogis.  That’s what made her perfect to lead the Honors Yoga Workshop.  Her positive and accepting method of teaching kept the stress level in the room to a minimum.  If someone was not comfortable attempting a pose, Ms Nemetz said encouraging things like, “Or you can just sit comfortably on the floor!  Sitting and resting is just as good.”

Twenty-two students attended, seeking either stress relief from finals or a new experience.  The mood in the room was calm, if not a bit comical and light-hearted.  Some students were enthusiastic about attempting more challenging poses, while others accepted that they had other talents to fall back on.  Overall, I would recommend this event to all Honors students.  Yoga is a low-impact workout that, in my case and in the case of many others who have tried it, clears the mind and lowers stress levels on even the worst days.  Fear not if you doubt that you are flexible enough! Yoga is easy to modify for people of any age, size, and athletic ability.

Most of the students in attendance were female, but yoga isn’t only for girls as two male Honors students attended as well, one of whom loved the experience and the other who seemed a little less thrilled.  According to the Yoga Journal website, 27.8% of yoga practitioners are men.

The concept of “Namaste” is the “cherry on top” of yoga that makes it great, even just conceptually.  “Namaste” is the phrase said at the end of each yoga class, which according to Ms. Nemetz means “the goodness in me recognizes the goodness in you.”  Even if you are not a natural at yoga, is it even possible to leave in a negative mood when you leave on that note?  I think not.

If you are interested in practicing yoga more often, Ms Nemetz offers a free class on Wednesday nights from 5:15-6:15pm and by other instructors on Tuesday nights from 6:15-7:15PM and 7:30-8:45PM.

Namaste, everyone!