By Stephanie Trembath

est on your back, arms and legs splayed, eyes
closed. Candles are lit, music flows from the
ont of the room, and you can hear the slow

inhale and exhale as the person next to you peacefully
dozes off. Your mind is calm and at ease; time and space

Sleening with strang

over the holidays

Yoga a great way te keep he:

have ceased to exist as your awareness is focused on
relaxation and unionization with the people around you.
The room is dark and warm with the dozen bodies that
have been enclosed in such a small space, so no blankets
or pillows are necessary. Minimal clothing, tousled hair,
and moist skin replace the perfected outfit one typically
wears out in public. Snuggled up beside the person

next to you like sardines in a can, you make sure not

to roll over for fear of bumping into someone you do
not recognize in the darkness, and although you’re in a
roomful of strangers, you’ve never felt so connected to
yourself and your body.

It may sound like it, but no, I am not talking about
the results of a drunken mistake you made over the
weekend, or a new profit-saving bed arrangement that
Vancouver is initiating to house the athletes coming
for the 2010 Olympics. I am referring to shavasana, or
more commonly known as the corpse pose, which is
practiced for the last five to 10 minutes of every yoga
class. In any other given social situation, bending and
stretching on a rubber mat clad only in spandex while
sweating and breathing heavily would be extremely
awkward and embarrassing, but in yoga it is all part of
sharing your inspiration and energy with the universe
and those around you.

Yoga, which means “to unite,” is the integration
of the physical self with the mind, and the mind with
the soul. It is the combination of physical endurance
and mental discipline to create an overall balance and
unionization within the self. In India, the ultimate goal
of yoga is to achieve a happy and balanced life with
the supreme being of the universe; however in our
Westernized way of practice, yoga has become more of
a “workout” rather than a spiritual way of life.

Unlike other activities, yoga does not require
a uniform, shoes, or required space to practice. For
these reasons it does not cost much money or time.
Running, swimming, cycling, or any organized sports
all require proper sportswear and equipment. As well,

a membership to the gym is extremely expensive
(especially for students; Fitness World works out to
almost $50 a month) and are time consuming as you
have to wait for a machine and immediately shower
afterwards. Yoga eliminates all the fuss associated with
exercise—all you need is the proper mindset and mat.

Yoga today is hugely misunderstood as a practice
for hippies and middle-aged women. I have been asked
on numerous occasions if I am “one of those spiritual

naturalists” and whether or not I am allowed to eat meat
whenever I admit to being a yoga teacher. To clear a few
things up: practicing yoga does not mean you have to
take part in the Hindu religion or spiritual philosophies,
so yes, meat is still allowed. Another misinterpretation
is its reputation of being “too boring and easy” and not
a good enough workout. Although there is no cardio
involved, in practicing one hour of
yoga you can burn hundreds of calories
depending on the type of class. One
hour of Hatha yoga burns roughly 200
calories, while an hour of power yoga
will burn 300 calories. In any Bikram
or hot yoga where the classes run for
an hour and a half over 600 calories
may be burned. Practicing a vinyasa,
which is a form of yoga that connects the breath to a
series of postures, allows for an even greater workout
as you connect the flow of breath to the physical
movements of the body.

Regardless of how many calories are burned in
an hour of practice, the benefits of yoga accommodate
the whole self and entire body. By practicing different
postures the core stability, muscular tone and flexibility
are all increased. As well, yoga helps maintain a
balanced metabolism and stretches muscles; which
cause fat to be eliminated around cells. Aside from
the physical benefits, yoga allows for the teachings of
mental and spiritual disciplines that other activities
do not offer. Relaxation, acceptance, and bringing
your mind to the present moment and focusing your
energy are a few of the mental aspects. The spiritual
characteristics include an awareness of the body, and
creating a positive connection between yourself, the
universe, and the people around you.

Dolphin, monkey, cobra, scorpion; sounds like
you’re in a zoo, but these are just a few of the poses
practiced in yoga, and with hundreds of different
postures it is difficult to become tired of doing the
same thing. Sitting on my own mat, sandwiched in
between two girls of my age at the front of the room, I
listen as the yoga instructor tells us to sit tall, close our
eyes, and focus on the present moment as we prepare
for the practice. Midway through, with sweaty brows
and gritted teeth, a composed demeanour and slow
breath is the last thing on anyone’s mind. However, the
competition that arises in most sports never occurs in
yoga; achieving the best of your ability to show and
inspire others is the desired outcome. Andrew Colyn,
who instructs at Newport Studio in the Tri-Cities,
teaches that “All people are like the sun and the moon;
the moon relies on the rays of the sun to illuminate the
sky and show off the beauty of the moon, this is the
same way we all rely and depend on each other.”

This year over this Christmas break, instead of
rushing out to sign up for a gym membership to work
off that holiday weight everyone puts on, try a yoga
class instead. Most yoga studios will let you try a first
class for free, and many rec centers offer yoga for less
than $5 per drop in. Just remember before you go: if
you’re going to wear spandex, don’t wear short-shorts;
laugh and allow yourself to have fun during practice;
and don’t fall asleep in shavasana—you might start to
snore or worse, drool.

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