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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