Print
Comment
Rate
Yoga anyone
 |
| Looking up: Jessi White instructs one of the yoga classes at the newly-opened Frontier Fitness Club in the old county building on Highway 80. (Curtis Elliott/photo.) |
Curtis Elliott
San Pedro Valley News-Sun
If you want a calm mind in a flexible body, yoga may be the answer. And now you can now take yoga classes in Benson. Jessie White, a certified yoga instructor, teaches three classes a week at the Frontier Fitness Club on State Route 80 in the old county building.
White is very high on yoga as an exercise, and not just because she teaches it.
"Power Yoga gives you a cardiovascular workout," White said. "It massages the internal organs, the glands, and creates flexibility in the joints and muscles."
"Yoga means union. All in one. Bringing the mind, the health, and the body all together. The philosophy is that everything is connected. Yoga has influenced all forms of exercise. It's both an exercise and a meditation at the same time," she says.
And yoga clearly works for a wide range of people.
"I'm 70 years old. I survived the West Nile virus, endured back surgery, which made me as limber as an ancient oak," said Ike Parker.
"I joined the senior yoga class (low intensity) out of curiosity. In two months, these are the ways I've changed: I can put my socks on with ease. I have more energy, better balance, less pain, and my memory has even improved. 'So who needs yoga?' I certainly did, and do. It has awakened both body and mind. Try it. All you can do is improve."
Lucy Moffett is a student in the Power Yoga course. She's been doing yoga for five years. She says, "It's an excellent exercise. It helps to give me more peace," Moffett said. "Within the body, it helps to strengthen it and give it more flexibility. It helps you with proper breathing, and you don't use your mouth as much. You can do yoga anywhere."
White's classes are all around an hour. She recommends working out 45 minutes to an hour for beginners.
When an athlete prepares for a big game, or a student prepares for a test, there's sometimes a concern about getting psyched up enough, or even getting psyched out. Yoga can help in this area too.
"Yoga teaches you how to do intense things with a calm mind, "White said. "It helps you deal with situations that you don't want to do. It trains you to be open to things."
There are very few men in the classes, and none in White's Monday morning class.
The owner of the fitness center, Jo DeWitt, is one of her students.
"I think there aren't many men, because of how it's perceived," White said.
"It's relaxing and slow. It's perceived as a feminine activity. In a small town like Benson, a man may be considered more of a sissy. In bigger cities, I've seen a more balanced mix."
"We've also had a hard time getting enough seniors to take classes. We only had two."
White teaches three classes. One is from 10 to 11 a.m. on Mondays, while the other two are night classes from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday nights. Her classes are $5 each at the fitness center. There's also a gentler yoga class taught from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
San Pedro Valley News-Sun
If you want a calm mind in a flexible body, yoga may be the answer. And now you can now take yoga classes in Benson. Jessie White, a certified yoga instructor, teaches three classes a week at the Frontier Fitness Club on State Route 80 in the old county building.
White is very high on yoga as an exercise, and not just because she teaches it.
"Power Yoga gives you a cardiovascular workout," White said. "It massages the internal organs, the glands, and creates flexibility in the joints and muscles."
"Yoga means union. All in one. Bringing the mind, the health, and the body all together. The philosophy is that everything is connected. Yoga has influenced all forms of exercise. It's both an exercise and a meditation at the same time," she says.
And yoga clearly works for a wide range of people.
"I'm 70 years old. I survived the West Nile virus, endured back surgery, which made me as limber as an ancient oak," said Ike Parker.
"I joined the senior yoga class (low intensity) out of curiosity. In two months, these are the ways I've changed: I can put my socks on with ease. I have more energy, better balance, less pain, and my memory has even improved. 'So who needs yoga?' I certainly did, and do. It has awakened both body and mind. Try it. All you can do is improve."
Lucy Moffett is a student in the Power Yoga course. She's been doing yoga for five years. She says, "It's an excellent exercise. It helps to give me more peace," Moffett said. "Within the body, it helps to strengthen it and give it more flexibility. It helps you with proper breathing, and you don't use your mouth as much. You can do yoga anywhere."
White's classes are all around an hour. She recommends working out 45 minutes to an hour for beginners.
When an athlete prepares for a big game, or a student prepares for a test, there's sometimes a concern about getting psyched up enough, or even getting psyched out. Yoga can help in this area too.
"Yoga teaches you how to do intense things with a calm mind, "White said. "It helps you deal with situations that you don't want to do. It trains you to be open to things."
There are very few men in the classes, and none in White's Monday morning class.
The owner of the fitness center, Jo DeWitt, is one of her students.
"I think there aren't many men, because of how it's perceived," White said.
"It's relaxing and slow. It's perceived as a feminine activity. In a small town like Benson, a man may be considered more of a sissy. In bigger cities, I've seen a more balanced mix."
"We've also had a hard time getting enough seniors to take classes. We only had two."
White teaches three classes. One is from 10 to 11 a.m. on Mondays, while the other two are night classes from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday nights. Her classes are $5 each at the fitness center. There's also a gentler yoga class taught from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
 |
 |
|
| Fire guts Movie Magic | Roush not concerned by Pulte's pull-out |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of bensonnews-sun.com.
