2/7/08
CSD2 teachers get a lesson in relaxation with yoga classes
By Jerriod Grizzle

JERRIOD GRIZZLE/Manning Times

Rosie Fout (left) and Petra Darby (right) stand side by side in the “warrior” position last Thursday after school during their yoga class at Manning High School. The 12-session class has been meeting for two weeks now and just completed their fourth session. The class meets Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Media Center.

Teachers got down … on their hands and knees last Thursday to pose in positions such as the “downward facing dog,” “rabbit” and “eagle” at Manning High School Thursday, in the media center to participate in after school yoga classes.

Wellness and Fitness Director for Clarendon Health Systems, Dee Dee Gaines knows the health value of yoga and said that is why she decided to bring the exercise to the teachers of Clarendon School District 2.

“They work really hard, and they need a stress reliever of some kind,” she said.

Yoga consists of postures, breathing techniques and exercises practiced to achieve a tranquil state within the body and mind.

Gaines is on the right track, and not only does yoga to relieve stress but but feels it also helps to build mental and spiritual health, help with depression, help with muscle and joint pain and lower the susceptibility to heart disease. Yoga is also shown to tone muscle and remove cellulite.

“It really helps me with my kids at school and when I get home I don’t feel so stressed when I have to do extra things,” said teacher Tracy Weeks.

Weeks’ comment was only the first in a line of many, as teachers expressed their feelings of wellness and gave examples of how the yoga teachings have helped make her life calmer.

This was the fourth session at MHS for teachers.

“Yoga is for everyone, you don’t have to be perfect and you start off easy,” said Gaines.

Gaines emphasized darkness in the media center during the session.

“First it helps you by being placed a tranquil setting without all the lights and secondly you don’t have to worry about anyone looking at you,” she said.

Gaines then moved the class through several positions of yoga, slowly and only rising slightly in skill.

Perhaps the most difficult was “the tree” where the class was put into a one-legged stance for several seconds.

However, cheating is allowed, to put the front of your other foot down and balance yourself.

After an hour, the class ended with Gaines emphasizing slow breathing, in through the nose and out through the mouth while laying back on the floor.

Then, the lights were up and the session ended with all the teachers feeling and looking more and more relaxed.

“It isn’t supposed to hurt, yoga doesn’t hurt, and if it does, you may want to back off and take it slower,” Gaines added.

Regular sessions meet at Manning High School on Tuesday and Thursday at 3:30 p.m. For more information call Dee Dee at Clarendon Health System at 435-5200.