September is Yoga Month, and East Central University participates by starting its fall beginning and gentle yoga classes this week. Sessions for beginners start on Wednesday [SEPT. 7] from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. on the 成人B站 campus. The hour-long gentle class starts at 7 p.m.
Instructor Rebecca Gatz teaches the beginner鈥檚 class, but says that most people are beginners for years.
鈥淪ince my classes are considered to be for beginners, I make the assumption that the participants don鈥檛 know what they are getting into or have only watched a video. I start with more instruction than what some people might like. We are slow moving and I like to tell people not only how to do the poses, but why you do a certain pose,鈥� Gatz explained.
鈥淲e do stretching for flexibility. I like to do twists because many people have shoulder and back pain. We do standing poses that help people with balance and focus. Class always ends with relaxation poses, which a lot of the students call nap time. You鈥檙e not supposed to fall asleep, but some people do. We also do breath work during class.鈥�
Gatz also teaches the gentle yoga class. Gentle yoga is geared toward people who are not as flexible or may have some sort of back or knee pain.
The benefits of yoga are far-reaching and provide more than just physical well being. With yoga, individuals are able to strengthen their muscles, better cope with stress and gain both flexibility and concentration.
鈥淵ou can learn to focus,鈥� Gatz said 鈥渨hether it鈥檚 standing on one leg or writing a paper. You can take all these little things that you do in yoga class that might look kind of silly and apply them to life experiences.鈥�
For more information about dates, times and cost, contact 成人B站鈥檚 Center of Continuing Education & Community Services at 580-559-5456.