When I attended my first free yoga class at the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Recreation Center in the winter of my sophomore year, I had no idea how it would change my life.
I entered the space with a sense of discomfort. I hadn’t done yoga in a few years, so I was hesitant to notice the stiffness in my limbs and the irregularities in my breathing. The other students around me seemed used to these classes and felt more comfortable overall.
At the time, I was facing mental health issues and my counselor suggested I try a free yoga class at a recreation center. I wanted to try everything, so I decided to give it a try.
The first class I took was taught by a student. She invited us into a space with candlelight and gentle music. The first class was an adjustment, but I still came back. And then I went back again. In fact, I soon realized that I wanted to become an instructor myself.
I am a journalism major and never imagined that I would have access to more than a career in my field of study at university. But after completing his 200-hour yoga teaching certification over the summer, he was ready to apply to teach at a recreation center.
Eric Alexander, Cal Poly’s assistant coordinator of fitness programs, said 16 of the recreation center’s 46 fitness instructors are students. He said a big benefit of hiring students as fitness instructors is the closeness they have with their peers.
“Students bring a tremendous amount of energy to the fitness program and have the opportunity to positively influence and motivate their peers,” Alexander said. “The student experience is valuable not only to the instructors but also to the participants and the program.”
I saw this as soon as I entered the teaching space. My classes are sometimes full of 40 or 50 students, many of whom are regulars who come back every week. With me being a college student, students are no longer afraid to approach me after class to ask questions or simply share what the class meant to them.
Having access to the physical and mental benefits of yoga has helped me regain focus and grow as a person and student. Additionally, I wanted to help others on their healing journey. This role as a fitness instructor has allowed me to expand access to yoga in the university community.
The practice of yoga taps into a rich history of healing through the mind-body connection, which promotes mindfulness and helps reduce tension. Especially for college students, this kind of physical practice is very beneficial.
According to a study cited by the National Library of Medicine, “Yoga has a positive effect on psychophysiological levels, leading to lower stress levels in college students.”
The average yoga class at a commercial studio costs between $15 and $25 per session, putting the benefits of yoga out of reach for many young people. I’ve seen how free classes on campus can solve that problem and make it less difficult for some students to explore on their own.
Cal Poly and other public universities also offer other free group physical activity classes, such as cycling, dance, Pilates, and high-intensity interval training, so students can explore what activities are most beneficial to them. can do.
I am grateful that my university supports me in pursuing my passion for yoga. Pursuing your passions and side interests while in school will also enrich your life and help enrich my life, while also teaching me things that I would like to share with other college students. In some cases, the lives of others.
Students always come up to me after my classes and tell me how this space has helped them focus and find peace in their busy student lives. In addition to continuing your yoga practice, we recommend that you consider teacher training if you are interested.
My platform as a student fitness instructor allows me to share my passion for yoga and promote healing, growth, and mindfulness in the university community. And now that I’ve gained career experience teaching yoga, I plan to continue doing that as a side job after college.
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Arabelle Meyer She is a fourth-year journalism major at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo and a member of EdSource’s California Student Journalism Corps.
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