In a year that has been challenging for so many St. Lawrence students, both academically and mentally, it is important for everyone to be able to find an escape from the daily stressors of the semester. Canton winters can make it difficult to get outside and be active during those necessary breaks from zoom academia—and for many, using public facilities for fitness can add another stressor of possible COVID exposure.

 SLU Club Yoga, run by the LIGHT House, has the perfect solution for those looking to get active from the comfort of their own room, or with a small group of peers in a COVID-safe environment. Classes are available every week, taught by both current and past students.

Classes are offered Tuesday-Friday at varying times, allowing flexibility for students to be able to fit a class or two into their weekly schedules! On Tuesdays, Clara Pollard ’21 teaches from 5:00-6:00. On Wednesdays, Anna Rissberger ’18 teaches from 6:30-7:30. On Thursdays, Isabella Lucarelli ’22 teaches from 12:30-1:00, and on Fridays, Jessica Bourcy ’23 teaches from 12:00-1:00. Tia Thompson ’20 teaches a monthly class that is shared via LIGHT House listserv updates.

The yoga classes offered by Club Yoga are an excellent way to get active, but also learn strategies for improving mental health. In an interview with Pollard, she emphasized how beneficial yoga has been for both her physical and mental health. “Yoga is so diverse, and it’s not always a physically intense practice,” she told me, before explaining how yoga practices can be focused on elements of breathing or meditation. “This variety has taught me how to be more present, over time giving me the tools to understand self-care and what self-care is supposed to feel like.”

In the realm of self-care, Bourcy also finds yoga to be “a very stabilizing, grounding practice emotionally,” which is why “it is so important during a pandemic.” It is a hard semester and a hard year, and it is hard seeing so many friends and classmates in low spirits. Jessica additionally explained her experience with how yoga can “rewire the way your brain thinks, not only about life in general, but the way you view yourself.”

Unfamiliar activities can be intimidating to get started in. However, while there are many downsides to zoom, it also allows people to join that otherwise may not have. Pollard spoke about how she has found zoom to be a great platform for people to get started in their practice. “You can turn your camera off if you aren’t as comfortable, and if you are comfortable with your camera on, I can give you adjustments and advice in order to improve your poses throughout the class.” 

All classes mentioned above are held on zoom, and occasionally in the Newell Purpose Room by signup. Jessica also offers weekly classes at Flying Lotus Yoga Center, that are free to students through the support of THELMO.  

To stay up to date with cancellations or changed times/locations, you can check out SLU Club Yoga on Facebook, or @slu_light_house on Instagram. Clara, Jessica, and Tia are also teachers at Flying Lotus Yoga Center, and can be found at @clarapollardyoga, @slu.yoga, and @yogawithtiathompson. Anna teaches other weekly classes and can be found at @whollybananna.