Lilliana Perez
Staff Writer
The Randall Lewis Center for Well-Being and Research is offering a needed outlet for students to distract themselves and mitigate stress. One such outlet is virtual yoga offered online several times a week to University students and employees.
Since the start of the pandemic, the Lewis Center with all campus organizations has moved online. The center has partnered with the United Yoga Studio in San Dimas for virtual yoga and pilates.
“The United Yoga Studio is … a small business, which is why we wanted to partner with them in the first place,” said Allison Krich, operations manager for the Lewis Center. She added that since small businesses are struggling in the pandemic, this partnership is win-win.
Ashley Dennis, yoga teacher at Unite and for a Sept. 18 class online for the ULV, said that teaching online allows her to reach a wider audience.
“For example, I have a friend who takes my yoga class, and she is in Canada so I am grateful that I am able to still teach yoga to her.” Dennis said.
Dennis said that instruction is more challenging online because it’s harder to see and correct mistakes. Still she said that teaching college students, even remotely, is important to her.
“For me, college was rough and it was a life where I was on the go,” Dennis said. “I want to be able to help other college students and members of the college community with creating a space to find rest and relaxation.”
Tessia Villedas, Cal Poly Pomona alumna, said that attending an online yoga class means no commuting, so it makes it easier and more convenient. Though Villedas admitted that it is harder to focus while at home.
“I would highly recommend for everyone to at least be open to trying virtual yoga once to just see what it entails, but I highly recommend it for anyone with a busy schedule,” said Corina Sagun, a Highland resident.
As of now, Sagun is working from home and sits at her desk for the majority of the day. She said that the reason she practices yoga is because it gets her more energized and also helps her blood flowing in contrast to her desk job.
“Yoga also helps to let go of whatever happened the day before and it helps to stop worrying about the future and instead gives you space to have a moment of reflection for yourself.” Sagun said.
During this time, people have been getting more and more stir crazy and virtual yoga or pilates exercises can help not only start a new hobby but can help relax and de-stress you from a long day’s work. If you want to try a virtual yoga or pilates session or see what else the school has to offer, you can visit laverne.edu/well-being/events for more information.
Lilliana Perez can be reached at lilliana.perez@laverne.edu.
