HEALTH
DON'T CALL IT
by Marion Hixon
Why the addictive exercise of yoga is good for the mind, body and soul.
"Open your mind..."
"What? Okay. Whatever."
"Now act like you're hugging a tree..."
Andrea Laws couldn't help but laugh at the tape playing on her TV. At the same time, she felt her body stretch. Okay, maybe she could warm up to yoga.
And slowly, she did. After hearing about it from her older sister two years ago, the Ottawa sophomore now
practices three to four times a week to Denise Austin videos.
Yoga is an age-old exercise catching on with students like Laws.
Stephanie Krehbiel, an instructor at Bodyworks Downtown, 13 E.8th St., says the number of students in her classes, especially graduate students, is constantly growing. Doctors are recommending the exercise more readily as a way to heal injuries or improve existing medical conditions, Krehbiel says.
When talking with yoga converts, it
Yoga poses extend a set of muscles in a certain position, holds for a few seconds, and then relaxes, which is known as static stretching. "It's not true that you have to twist yourself up into these ungody positions," Goodman adds. "Contracting and relaxing movements slowly make the body strong, more flexible and will help create long, lean muscle." Yoga differs from exercises like weightlifting or running, which develop short, thick muscle.
"It works a great deal to strengthen the core muscles in the abdominal and solarplexus areas," Goodman says.
So what exactly does yoga do for your body?
need is a tape, book or yoga instructor, Laws notes that there's a good chance you may laugh a lot the first time you try it. "Some of the exercises seem ridiculous at first, but then you realize that it's really working your body," she says.
A BUM DEAL
Stephanie Krehbiel,
Lawrence yoga instructor,
knows the dangers of
overstretching and feeling it
in the end:
"I have a tendency, when
I'm not careful, to strain my
piriformis muscle, which
is in the rear end. There is
nothing worse than being.
In the middle of teaching a
class and realizing that I've
essentially pulled my butt.
Sometimes I can switch to
just instructing my students
without demonstrating, but
if it really hurts it's hard to
hide the problem!"
Around for centuries, yoga has different types and more than 20,000 positions.
becomes evident that the exercise is addictive. After seeing a window sign advertising upcoming yoga lessons, Corrine Goodman signed up. Thirty-six years later, she's still practicing yoga and is now the Director of Curriculum and Instruction for the Yoga Association of America. She recommends the exercise for all ages and body types, noting that you don't have to be young and supple to practice it.
Katherine Wiley's first yoga experience was at a free-trial class offered by her
While equipment is necessary for many other exercises, yoga requires none. All you 18-> JAYPLAY 04.06.2006
gym. She had been exercising with a Pilates video prior to attending. During the class, the Lawrence freshman was calmed by the soothing music and inspired by the 60-year-old women doing inversions and head-stands around her. The art form captivated her and she has been practicing ever since.
"There's always going to be stress in your life,
While it helps to relax the body, lengthen muscles and advance flexibility, yoga is also known as an effective stress reducer. Eight out of 10 students attend Goodman's classes to relieve stress.
Wiley and Laws both attest to the exercise relieving much of their stress. "(Daily) tasks are easier and much less stressful," Wiley says.
but you can change how you react to it by taking a few deep breaths and doing some balance poses," she says.
One common misconception about yoga is that it's a religion. Goodman says this is not true, that it's merely a philosophy with suggested guidelines by which to live. Yamas and Neyamas are yoga's guidelines for virtuous living. They include rules such as nonviolence, truthfulness, contentment and discipline.
"Yoga is a lifelong practice for the mind, body and spirit, no matter what religion you attest to."Wiley says.
Most yoga sessions end with the instructor and students saying "namaste," in unison. The phrase literally means "I bow to you," and YogaJournal.com adds that the gesture is a symbol of gratitude and respect. While peace — one of yoga's main objectives — is often difficult to achieve with hectic schedules, it makes it all the more helpful when using yoga as a source of balance in one's lifestyle.
FINDING PEACE IN LAWRENCE
The Yoga Center: 920 Mass St., above Milton's, (785) 830-YOGA, yogacenter.lawrence.ks.us
LOCAL YOGA CLASS LOCATIONS
Bodyworks Downtown: 13 E.8th St., (785) 841-2963
Bikrams Yoga: 711 W.23rd St.,#13,(785) 832-YOGA
The Rec Center/KU Fit classes: (785) 864-3546, recreation.ku.edu
Lawrence Athletic Club: 3201 Mesa Way, (785) 842-4966, lawrenceathleticclub.com
The Lawrence Art Center: 940 New Hampshire, (785) 843-2787, lawrenceartscenter.com.
JAYFLAT 04.08.2003
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