The yoga class, taught by Renee Hoppe on Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, offers a warm and welcoming environment for students to let go of their worries. College students often try to find ways to relax in their busy schedules, and yoga is a great way to do it.

“It is a good break from the crazy and hectic college life we all know and love. I also like that it is student taught and I can go with friends,” Junior Caitlin Skvorc said.

The poses that are taught in Hoppe’s class safely stretch the muscles, as well as the soft tissues of your body. Yoga also increases the range of motion in joints, and some forms can also improve muscle tone. Nearly all of the poses taught in the class, when done correctly, build up core strength in the abdominal muscles. Yoga also improves posture due to the support your abdominals have to maintain during each pose. The class can also prevent muscle loss and support flexible joints.

Hoppe also teaches yoga in a way that involves mindful breathing. With enough practice, your lung capacity can improve. Not only is this beneficial, but the emphasis on lengthening and deepening your breath stimulates a relaxation response. Yoga is a great way to not only increase your fitness level, but is also helpful in maintaining a healthy mentality. The best part is that no experience is required. Even after attending the class for the first time you can feel less stressed and more relaxed. Just about every person that attends yoga will tell you they feel happier and more at ease after class. It is also known to lower blood pressure and slow the heart rate.

“My favorite part is that you can relax and feel at peace when you are done. It’s a good workout if you do it correctly,” First-year Brook Amodt said.

Yoga is most beneficial when it is combined with another form of strength training. Flexibility without strength is counter-productive, and vice versa. When you combine the extra strength training to your usual regimen you could prevent injuries and also increase your self-awareness, which can be helpful in maintaining good posture.

“I like yoga because it is calming while also incorporating strength. You can relax and tone your body at the same time,” First-year Jane Day said.