Yoga Club provides students space to stretch out stress

Emma Carmichael Staff Writer

It’s often difficult for college students to find time to relax in the midst of their busy schedules. Classes, meetings, practices, and meals take up much of their days, and find ing time to unwind and slow down their bodies is a challenge. One of Vassar’s newest organizations, the Yoga Club, offers students an outlet of this sort.

Yoga is a Hindu practice that works to harmonize the body and mind through a number of postures and breathing exercises. Sophie Feintuch ’08 and Andrea Prado ’08 are leading the club through its first year. Both have been practicing yoga since high school.

“I had never been very athletic,” said Feintuch, “but I was drawn to yoga because of how it incorporates strength, flexibility, and balance.”

Yoga stresses the importance of meditation, which leads to mental clarity and general well-being. It requires “being aware of your breathing and your body,” said Prado.

While the Yoga Club’s focus is not on the physical benefits of the practice, Feintuch noted that yoga is a great way to stay healthy. “After starting, I noticed how much better my entire body would feel,” said Feintuch.

The Yoga Club began this year because most of the classes offered through In the Pink are mainly for beginners, and have a sign-up fee.

“We wanted a place where we could just practice and learn from each other,” said Prado. “[It’s] very informal and is really a place for just intermediate and advanced practitioners to do yoga a few times a week together for an hour. We take turns leading the class and are open to trying different types of yoga.”

“The club just started a couple of weeks ago,” added Feintuch. “But I have already found my own yoga practice to improve greatly—partly because it requires me to practice regularly, and partly because practicing without a ‘teacher’ is a new experience for me.”

Both Prado and Feintuch encourage all students with prior experience in yoga to attend their sessions.

“Yoga classes at the gym are great, but mostly for people that are just beginning or wish to improve their basic practice,” explained Prado. “I think it would be great for people to do both classes and the Yoga Club, as we are not teachers but offer a space to practice what people already know through classes.”

Feintuch agreed, and stressed the importance of a group setting in yoga. “Yoga is very accessible, but it’s nice to practice in a group because you need a lot of discipline to practice alone,” she said. “It's a ‘sport’ where not everyone has to be at the same level to practice together because all poses have variations; thus, less advanced yoga students can do modified versions while still practicing and learning from more advanced students.”

“Also, through practicing in a group, everyone can learn from each other and answer questions about poses and breathing techniques,” continued Feintuch.

The Yoga Club meets Mondays from 10 p.m.-11 p.m., Wednesdays from 3 p.m.-4 p.m., and Sundays from 7 p.m.-8 p.m. in the Fitness MPR which is in Walker Gymnasium. Anyone with prior experience and a desire to improve is welcome to attend.