Finding zen: Student yoga classes provide chances to relax, focus

With finals rapidly approaching and the holidays just around the corner, students can find themselves stressed and overwhelmed.

In order to maintain balance and focus, some SUU students have discovered a new way to escape, relax, replenish and refocus with yoga.

SUU Adjunct Instructor Kendall LaFournaise teaches yoga classes on campus and that she enjoys helping students learn to restore their mental, physical and emotional balance.

"Yoga means to yoke your mind, body, breath and spirit," LaFournaise said.

One of yoga's major focuses is breathing, LaFournaise said.

"I heard once that your breath is as unique as is your fingerprint," she said.

LaFournaise teaches five classes during the semester, and they range from mixed-level beginner to intermediate levels.

The classes are taught in a step-by-step and gradual instruction style, LaFournaise said.

"These kids start out knowing nothing," she said.

The classes are traditional semester-length classes and everyone is encouraged to participate.

Sometimes yoga is looked upon as a fit person's exercise, but LaFournaise said she encourages anyone who is interested to join.

DeWayne Lewis, a senior sociology major from Austin, Texas, who is also a cornerback for SUU's football team, said he does yoga to help balance out his exercise routine.

"It's helped my strength and flexibility and taught me to breathe properly," Lewis said.

Lewis also said LaFournaise had noticed his flexibility had improved drastically.

"I think SUU should offer a yoga class specifically for student athletes," Lewis said. "It would help individual performance, but overall team performance would improve."

Lewis said he had heard of professional athletes going as far as decreasing their normal weight training focus in order to practice yoga on a more consistent basis.

LaFournaise's classes encompass a wide range of students, and while yoga is primarily looked upon as a feminine routine, many men are starting to branch out and participate in yoga.

Bram Stults, a sophomore art major from Cedar City, said he signed up for yoga in order to make time for him to reflect.

"Yoga balances out my week," Stults said. "It gives me a good point of reference each week."

LaFournaise said her class focuses on each person for who they are and doesn't single anyone out for what they can or cannot do.

"We have a lot to be grateful for," LaFournaise said.

Yoga is a balance of energy, and there are several ways to explain that concept, she said. Yoga is a balance of contracting and expanding energies.

Yoga classes are offered each semester at SUU. Faculty and staff are also able to participate in yoga through the T-Fit program. For information on T-fit, visit www.suu.edu/tfit.

Students looking for information about yoga classes can search the registration catalog or the electronic copy via the school's Web site.