“Ah!” Vaughn exclaimed, with his face red. “This is hard!”

The Hazelwood Middle School student is one of about 140 students who tried out yoga in gym class Monday, thanks to a grant to purchase the mats and a volunteer alumna, Ayanna Brown, a Bikram Yoga Method instructor, who came by and led each class through the stretches.

Therese Stevens, PE teacher at the school, received a $250 grant from the New Albany-Floyd County Education Foundation to purchase the 37 mats. She said she’s done a lot of different exercises in her life and none compare to yoga.

“This is the most complete exercise I’ve done in my life. You exercise from head to toe,” she said. “It’s a new experience for the students and they are moving their bodies in ways they never have before.”

Brown said childhood obesity is a major problem in the state and yoga can help children lose weight as well as gain flexibility, balance, reduce stress and more.

“There is an alternative to a team sport that they are used to. [Yoga] is another way to keep healthy,” Brown said.

After spending a class period doing the various stretches, many said though it was challenging, they enjoyed it.

“I liked it,” 13-year-old Tyler Ward said. “I want to do this, because it makes you more flexible and better at athletic stuff.”

“It’s kind of hard, because I’m not that flexible, but I like it,” 13-year-old Constanza Gutieriez said. “It’s better, because we usually have to play badminton or run or jog outside and I don’t like running.”

“I thought it was fun,” 12-year-old Abby Daugherty said. “It relaxes everybody and releases all the stress.”

Stevens said students will continue to do yoga in class two times a week.

“It’s great for the mind, body and spirit,” she said. “It puts people in focus.”

Article written by Tara Hettinger
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