In a world where every day seems to start with a new crisis, finding an effective way to alleviate stress is an important part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. However, while stress is certainly a mental and emotional sensation, sometimes the key to combating it can come from a physical activity.
For registered yoga instructor Jenn Willhite, alleviating stress is one of the goals as she leads her outdoor yoga basics class on the plaza at Bartholomew County Public Library.
“We kind of pent up our stress under normal circumstances,” Willhite said. “So with everything going on, I think that self-care is of the utmost importance, really, especially at this time.”
Willhite’s free, year-round class is held every Monday from noon to 1 p.m. The library first contacted her about leading a monthly class in 2018, and the program became so popular that it later became a weekly occurrence.
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“Yoga basics is for everybody,” Willhite said. “All levels, all experience. And it’s just a basic Vinyasa flow. We link movement with breath and just kind of meet everyone on the mat where they are, what their level is.”
She added that the class involves foundational poses, such as warrior and tree, and it includes both grounding and balancing poses. In light of COVID-19, there will not be hands-on adjustments.
Willhite noted that students are asked to bring their own mats and space them out 6 feet apart from each other. She added that students are free to bring any props they like, such as straps or blocks, and suggested that they also bring a water bottle and towel to fight the heat. As far as clothes, she said that students should wear anything that “breathes easily and allows for movement.”
As for masks, Willhite said that they are not required; it is “up to the students’ discretion” whether they choose to wear a mask or not.
She emphasized that all are welcome to join the outdoor class.
“Any time that we can spend on the mat, just coming back home to the breath, simply connecting with others, you know, in a class setting, if we can, outdoors, and just taking that time for ourselves, to care for ourselves and just breathe, I think it’s very important right now,” she said.
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For more information about Bartholomew County Library programs, visit mybcpl.org.
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