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Balancing on toes, diving into spiritual realm, achieving deep relaxation:
New yoga craze hits IWU



Katie Forristall,
Argus Staff Writer, 6 December 2002.



It’s 8:13 p.m. Thirty-seven college students sit cross-legged, palms outstretched, eyes closed.

        They chant in rhythm and breathe in time. They are beginning their weekly yoga class at Illinois Wesleyan University’s Shirk Center.

        IWU students Satish Lohani, Jodie Daquilanea, Kate Davis and Kaushik Bhatia started leading yoga classes in mid-October to educate the IWU community about Asian culture, as well as promote increased spirituality and relieve students’ stress.

        “We’re teaching the class to help our friends and classmates, not just to build our résumés,” said Lohani, who has practiced yoga since age 11.

        “Yoga enables you to feel more active and at the same time relaxed. And sharing the same experiences with the rest of the people in the class gives you a real sense of connection.”

        The yoga classes are the first on campus to be taught by students, according to IWU Wellness Director Missy Smock.

        “We knew there wasn’t a strong background of yoga here,” said Daquilanea, “so we were really excited when 90 people showed up to the first class.”

        At 8:21 p.m. the yoga students begin more energetic and complicated poses. One, the “sun salutation,” is a series of poses designed to increase energy. “You should do this on the quad at 6:00 in the morning,” Lohani suggests. Students perform the pose at their own pace, and the room fills with a silent energy as the students stand tall, bend backwards and forwards, touch their toes and descend to lay on their stomachs, all in fluid motion. Then they start the whole sequence over again for six repetitions.

        Lohani and Daquilanea said they try to practice yoga, especially the sun salutation, every morning. “It always helps me feel more awake and ready to face the day,” Daquilanea said.

        The clock strikes 8:30 and the students assume the “warrior pose,” standing with legs apart, arms outstretched, touching the toes of one foot with the opposite arm extended into the air. The hardest part about this pose is maintaining balance, and some students giggle as they begin to totter forward or backward. All, though, manage to stay on their feet and complete the pose.

        “Yoga is really important for learning and practicing techniques of balance,” Smock said. “It really helps with relaxation, too, and focuses attention. Yoga not only enhances flexibility, it teaches a philosophy.”

        “It’s all about spreading the joy,” added Daquilanea. “I took a meditation class last year and it made me want to help other people experience the positive influence on the body.”         As 8:30 p.m. rolls around, the students balance on their toes in the palm tree pose, arms outstretched to the ceiling and fingers interlocked. “If you do these poses enough, you should start to feel more in tune with nature and be less concerned about the physical and material aspect of the world,” Lohani says.

        Besides improving one’s connection with the natural realm and helping relieve stress, yoga poses can even prevent migraines, digestive problems and heart disease, according to Lohani and Daquilanea. Other poses are said to improve spatial reasoning, cure insomnia and increase memory ability. These benefits are especially helpful to students during finals week, as Lohani pointed out.

        When the clock strikes 8:50 the students know it’s time for the “cadaver pose,” which many students describe as their favorite. It is the easiest pose to execute, and also the most relaxing – students sprawl out on the floor with their eyes closed and their palms toward the ceiling for a last meditation before the class ends.

        “Yoga is the one thing I do on this campus that allows me to not feel guilty about relaxing and taking a break,” Davis said.

        None of the attendees seem to feel guilty either – when the teachers announce the end of the five minutes of cadaver pose, many students yawn, stretch and rise slowly to their feet, soaking up the last moments of the class.

        “I feel like I’m buzzing after it’s over,” said student Sarah Bennett. “Yoga is so relaxing.”

        Patty Devery, a music education major with a vocal concentration, said her voice teacher recommended the yoga class. “It teaches controlled breathing techniques that are important for vocal performance,” Devery said. “But it’s also the most relaxing part of my week, and I look forward to it.”

        According to Lohani, 142 different people visited the yoga classes at one point or another during the semester, which averages out to 43.6 people per week. “The class was successful, a lot better than we planned for,” he said. “People seemed to enjoy it, and they attended even though they were busy with homework and finals.”

        “Yoga is something a lot of people are interested in and want to do, but have never found the opportunity to do,” Davis said. The four current teachers hope to involve more IWU students next semester. They will continue presenting beginners’ classes and are looking at starting an intermediate class as well.

        “Yoga is a mind-body experience,” Lohani said. “Each of the poses was designed to make you forget your everyday worries and reinvigorate your body and soul.”








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