The benefits of Yoga
Michelle Colandrea
Issue date: 4/10/08 Section: Life!
Did you know that Muhlenberg offers its students a free, complete yoga class every Tuesday night? Class runs from 8:30 p.m. to about 9:40 p.m. and is held in the wrestling room in the Life Sports Center. All students are welcome and it does not require a weekly commitment or any past experience. Even if you're just the tiniest bit curious, head over to the gym this Tuesday and discover for yourself what all the hype is about!
To help shed some light on the practice and benefits of yoga, we consulted instructor Christi Rutkowski. She has been teaching yoga at the college level for four years now. She not only leads a class here at Muhlenberg, but instructs classes for all age levels and abilities throughout the Lehigh Valley. She shares some of her knowledge and experience with us below.
Briefly describe a typical Tuesday night yoga session.
CR: The lights are dimmed and relaxing music is playing. We begin each class with a brief philosophy discussion (for example, mindfulness) which we will practice through the duration of the class. Then we review our breathing (diaphragmatic). Most of class is postures. We practice a variation of posture styles, ensuring a balanced variety. We end class with a relaxation and a meditation. Lots of laughter included!
What kind of health benefits would students receive by attending weekly classes?
CR: Every person is different in their needs when coming to class. That's the beauty of yoga! It is holistic, which helps you feel overall balanced and focused. Most students gain an increase in strength and flexibility, a decrease in stress levels and tension in the muscles, improved immune system functioning, and a feeling of mental clarity and peace.
Students with specific needs have been able to lower blood pressure, heal from emotional wounds, improve grades and overall success in classes, sleep better, improve relationships, embrace their spiritual beliefs, etc. Regular attendance is crucial to see lasting results.
To help shed some light on the practice and benefits of yoga, we consulted instructor Christi Rutkowski. She has been teaching yoga at the college level for four years now. She not only leads a class here at Muhlenberg, but instructs classes for all age levels and abilities throughout the Lehigh Valley. She shares some of her knowledge and experience with us below.
Briefly describe a typical Tuesday night yoga session.
CR: The lights are dimmed and relaxing music is playing. We begin each class with a brief philosophy discussion (for example, mindfulness) which we will practice through the duration of the class. Then we review our breathing (diaphragmatic). Most of class is postures. We practice a variation of posture styles, ensuring a balanced variety. We end class with a relaxation and a meditation. Lots of laughter included!
What kind of health benefits would students receive by attending weekly classes?
CR: Every person is different in their needs when coming to class. That's the beauty of yoga! It is holistic, which helps you feel overall balanced and focused. Most students gain an increase in strength and flexibility, a decrease in stress levels and tension in the muscles, improved immune system functioning, and a feeling of mental clarity and peace.
Students with specific needs have been able to lower blood pressure, heal from emotional wounds, improve grades and overall success in classes, sleep better, improve relationships, embrace their spiritual beliefs, etc. Regular attendance is crucial to see lasting results.