Yoga student Casey Richards practices a standing pose at "hot yoga" April 19. (CU Independent/Molly Maher)
Yoga classes offered by the CU Rec Center are purported to have physical and mental benefits.
“Students that take yoga will have increased focus. It might help them perform better on exams because of increased clarity,” said Jillian Lloyd, a yoga instructor who’s been teaching at the Rec Center for over five years.
Lloyd said students do yoga for many reasons, among them to develop mental skills that can help them in the classroom.
Willem van Vliet, an environmental design professor, said he has taken yoga courses at the Rec Center in addition to practicing at home for over a year.
“There is a long list of benefits, both physical and mental,” Van Vliet said.
Van Vliet said he agreed that yoga could benefit one’s mental state.
“I’ve experienced improved concentration and focus. I am able to set aside distractions more easily,” Van Vliet said.
Lloyd said yoga is also physically beneficial.
“Physical benefits include an increased range of motion, injury prevention, and enhanced ability in other sports. People don’t usually do it for the aerobic benefits-it nicely compliments other fitness regimens,” Lloyd said.
Despite its benefits, the average CU student may feel overwhelmed by the difficult appearance of yoga.
“I’m not flexible; I don’t think my body could ever bend that way,” said Megan Stark, a 19-year-old freshman open-option major.
Fortunately, the Rec Center offers both beginning and advanced yoga classes. The class schedule can be viewed here: http://www.colorado.edu/rec-center/instructionprogram/fall/yoga.html
The semester-long classes meet several times a week. While the first sign-up period has already passed, students and faculty can register for the last half of the semester for half of the original price. This second sign-up period starts Oct. 19.
Pamela Dadaos, a 19-year-old sociology sophomore, said she is taking a beginning level yoga class and enjoys it.
“It’s like nothing I’ve ever done before. It’s very interesting,” said Dadaos.
While Dadaos said she hasn’t noticed any mental or physical benefits yet, she said she still appreciates the class.
“It’s fun. In my class, everyone is at the same beginning level, so we can all laugh when we fall over,” Dadaos said.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Mary Rochelle at Mary.rochelle@colorado.edu.
