By: Rachael Schirato
Breathe. Relax your body. Take notice of every muscle, every part of your body. Inhale and prepare to move. Exhale. Slowly move into a Tadasana.
Tadasana, the Sanksrit word for mountain, is only one of many poses taught in Power Vinyasa Yoga, an unique exercise with numerous health benefits. Due to misinterpretation of traditional yoga, many are unaware of the skill and strength required at all levels. To beat this myth, Mrs. Lori Ogle and Mrs. Julee Brown led Hershey High School students in Vinyasa instruction during Community Day, a school wide event meant to showcase skills and activities.
The session, where Ogle and Brown taught the basics of Vinyasa Yoga, gave students a true feel for the exercise. Each session, with roughly 20 to 30 students, lasted a little under an hour, allowing just enough time to introduce Vinyasa and spark interest in the activity. “My goal is to show [the students] the familiar poses,” Ogle said.
Students entered the session with an overall enthusiasm and anticipation. Some participated to improve physical health, while others hoped to relax.
Junior, Erica Wang, a cross country runner, hoped to experience a fun workout, and according to overall consensus at the conclusion of the session, she found a fun workout!
Sophomore, John Engle, one of the few guys participating expressed his excitement for Vinyasa. “I hope we do some sick yoga moves,” Engle said, “and find spiritual enlightenment.”
https://youtu.be/nUUSYU30tjk
Students follow Ogle’s directions through a stretching routine, known as Vinyasa. The yoga session was part of HHS’ first ever Community Day.
Throughout the session, students were introduced to several poses to experience the feel for Vinyasa. Ogle and Brown began with a resting pose to relax and jumped into a Vinyasa, or flow, sequence of stretches to strengthen core. The remainder of the session was composed of stretching with an emphasis on breathing.
The positive response to the session was overwhelming. While many admitted Vinyasa was challenging, students left the session feeling relaxed and stretched. Sophomore, Gina Tarsi, was the latter. “I think it was very relaxing and it provides good escape from life,” Tarsi said.
Ogle, responsible for the success of this session, did not become a yoga guru in the typical way. She was practically pushed toward it as a way to cope from an unfortunate accident. In the year of 2000, Ogle suffered a herniated disc.
The National Library of Medicine explains that a herniated disc or ruptured disc cushioning the spinal vertebrates, irritate the nervous system, causing an extreme amount of pain. To alleviate pain, doctors recommended medication, physical therapy, and possible surgery; however, for Ogle, nothing worked.
This was until a friend recommended yoga as a way for Ogle to relieve pain. After trying a traditional Yoga class, Ogle switched to Vinyasa for its fast pace and strength. With continued practice of Vinyasa, Ogle’s chronic pain decreased and she returned to her past favorite activities including running.
According to Radiant Yoga, an organization dedicated to teaching and living through Yoga, Vinyasa challenges both the aerobic and anaerobic systems. Vinyasa helps to relax students while strengthening core. In addition, Vinyasa is known to balance metabolism, massage muscles and internal organs, strengthen the immune system, and build pain tolerance.
With Ogle’s new found love of Vinyasa, she began teaching classes to a small group of HHS teachers every week, including Brown, who taught the Vinyasa session during Community Day.
Both Ogle and Brown recognize the art and power of Vinyasa. Brown explains the nature of Vinyasa as a soothing and “a decompression from life.” Ogle acknowledged that Vinyasa is a good workout and can be difficult. Ogle expresses that even her husband, Brian Ogle, who is very athletic, has trouble with Vinyasa.
Brown and Ogle think the session was successful, citing that students were enthusiastic and responsive. “They were willing to put their bodies into unique positions,” said Tarsi.
Namaste.
