CrissCross Yoga, in collaboration with Francis Marion University, held a short, relaxing session for students in the Honors Center (HC) main lobby, Monday, Sept. 30, where around nine students were present.
During the session, CrissCross Yoga owner Charlee Rhodes walked students through various yoga movements and poses, giving instructions on how to achieve them. Students followed along intently as they learned and practiced. Laughter, smiles and positive energy were shared among attendees as they tried to relieve the tension of the fall semester. Rhodes offered positive affirmations during the session, helping calm students’ minds as they moved. Short breaks allowed attendees to breathe deeply and relax their muscles.
Se’Kenya Eaddy, a fine arts major, explains the session relaxed her mind and body and even helped ease her anxiety for the school semester so far as a result.
“It takes my mind off the workload,” said Eaddy, her main reason for attending this event being to ease her worries of upcoming exams in her classes. From what is gathered, many students viewed this event as an opportunity to take a break from the stress that this year may have caused thus far.
“It’s a relief, honestly,” said Eaddy, expressing her enjoyment of the event as it had wrapped up.
Rhodes explains her reasoning for holding this event was to lessen the weight on students’ shoulders and allow for a chance for them to learn new things from this practice. She explains some of the many health benefits which may be reaped from the practice of yoga. Body awareness, stretching and even mental health are some of the examples she was able to give.
It can be indicated from the students in attendance earlier that Rhodes’ explanations hold true. This gives insight into the practice and can potentially help relieve some of the stress students are experiencing this fall as the semester progresses.
Her main goal for the event was to potentially inspire students in attendance, and even across campus to potentially investigate the deep, historical practice of yoga themselves. She hopes from her session given today that students will feel more confident in their abilities at yoga and jump back in for another round through classes, or even on their own.
“It’s important to take time to learn new activities and focus on other things,” said Rhodes, hoping her past and future classes will help the students of FMU physically and mentally to succeed in their life inside and outside of the classroom.
Two more sessions for the students of FMU with Crisscross Yoga are planned to be held on Oct. 28 and Nov. 18 at 5 p.m. in the HC main lobby.