Sally Kershner
Features Editor
Rising in prominence this school year, The College of Wooster’s Yoga Club is expanding everything they have to offer to students with their new leadership. In comparison to the more simplistic dynamic of the 2015-16 Yoga Club, new co-Presidents Sabrina Harris ’19 and Bastian Redcross ’19 have integrated a diverse number of yoga classes along with new instructors, making yoga classes even more accessible to students and staff.
Last year, yoga classes were only offered once a week on Sunday afternoons by the Yoga Club. This year, the Yoga Club has added three more classes varying in levels and styles of yoga in addition to the regular Vinyasa flow class taught by Harris on Sundays.
“Our vision is to make yoga as accessible and exciting to every student on campus as it is to us, and that is why we try to teach as much as possible,” said Harris. A brand new non-student instructor has been brought in to teach a basic Vinyasa flow class on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. in the HotBox. Andy VanDeusan is from Wooster, Oh. and regularly teaches yoga classes at FlexYoga in downtown Wooster. Yoga Club hired VanDeusen to bring a new instructor to the College. Not only will Yoga Club host this new instructor, but it will also offer a unique style of yoga called AcroYoga.
Taught by Redcross on Friday evenings, AcroYoga is a combination of acrobatics and yoga poses in one class, encouraging students to work together in poses and breaths. Instead of practicing yoga by oneself, a partner is required.
As daunting as AcroYoga may sound, the class Redcross offers is beginner friendly, especially to those who are unfamiliar with AcroYoga or yoga practice in general. Yoga as a practice is often stigmatized as an exercise that requires impeccable flexibility or insane core strength, but there is no specific body type required to practice yoga.
“I would stress that the yoga community at Wooster is entirely a judgement-free space. Regardless of your body, your mentality or your experience level there is room for you to come practice with us!” said Harris. “The most important part of yoga for those who have not previously practiced is simply to be open to the experience and accept that your practice is still in its beginning stages — remember that every yogi had to start sometime and no one walks onto a mat as an expert their first time.”
Yoga Club prides itself on their welcoming atmosphere and ability to aid students in destressing from their every day college life.
“There are so many benefits from practicing that physical development is an afternote. Yoga is a moving meditation, so not only does it allow you to become connected to your body and your breath, it calms the mind and energizes the entire being,” said Harris.
Continuing with their weekly scheduled classes, Yoga Club hopes to host themed classes for holidays and restorative and relaxation classes during finals.
The complete schedule is as follows: Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Vinyasa flow taught by VanDeusen; Fridays at 6 p.m. AcroYoga taught by Redcross; Saturdays at 3 p.m. Vinyasa flow taught by Redcross; Sundays at 3 p.m. Vinyasa flow taught by Harris. Grab your mats and head to Aerobics Studio in the basement of the Scot Center to flow.