Student Life hosted a beginner-friendly yoga class in collaboration with CrissCross Yoga on Sept. 23 in the Honors Center (HC). The session was led by yoga instructor Charlee Rhodes, who guided students through various poses.
Stretch It Out offered students a perfect opportunity to unwind after a long day of classes. The class featured various techniques, including the child’s pose, downward-facing dog, cobra and the warrior pose.
The class emphasized the concept of “selfish yoga,” encouraging participants to modify poses as needed and choose movements that resonated with them in the moment. This approach allowed students to engage in the practice at their own pace, making it accessible for everyone, regardless of their experience level.
The session concluded with a brief guided meditation and breathing exercise led by Rhodes. She encouraged students to embrace the present moment and connect with their immediate physical feelings. Her goal was to cultivate mindfulness, helping them tune out external distractions and focus only on what they could control in their personal spaces
Student life specialist Evelyn Prosser highlighted the benefits of yoga for students.
“Stretch It Out was created as a way to encourage both mental and physical health for our students through yoga,” Prosser said. “The practice is used to reduce stress, improve sleep and increase flexibility… It has created a community of
like-minded students who want to take care of their mental and physical health.”
Janiah Clark, a freshman biology major and attendee of the session, expressed her appreciation for the class.
“I heard about this event from the Patriot Minute email and my friend said she was going to come, so I joined her,” Clark said. “It helped me to relax and calm down and the environment was nice. The poses were a little hard but I would come again.”
For more information on upcoming events, follow the university’s social media or check the student calendar on the FMU website. The next Stretch It Out yoga session will take place on Oct. 21 in the HC.