Stressed?

Can’t sleep?

Yoga can help.

Yoga consists of stretches, breathing exercises, meditation, and much more.

“Yoga benefits body systems, such as the nervous system, the digestive system, etc.,” UCF yoga teacher Charles McEvoy said.  “In my class we practice hatha yoga, which consists of doing poses, stretches and meditation.”

UCF yoga teacher Charles McEvoy

Practicing yoga can help your body relax and calm down for the day. 

“Doing yoga in the morning relaxes me,”  senior Chad Misselhorn, who attends the free yoga classes in the UCF Fitness Center, said.  “It makes me feel good, gives me a peaceful energy to begin the day.”

The corpse pose (lying on your back, hands are palms up at your sides, feet slightly apart) begins most yoga sessions.  It relaxes and opens the body.  It also prepares the body for stretching.

Here is a list of different poses to help the stressed body a little relaxation:

Crocodile:

lie face down, head tucked with forehead on folded arms, legs slightly apart with feet and toes pointing out, breathe in fully with the abdomen extending and the hips rising slightly with exhaling

Child’s Pose:

kneel with buttocks resting on heels, bend at hips, lean forward till forehead rests on floor, rest arms at sides with palms up, breathe in deeply and exhale all air, repeat

Bow:

lie face down, arms at sides, bend legs and bring feet toward your buttocks, hold onto your ankles, pull legs forward rising your torso off the ground, hold 10-15 seconds

Modified Bridge:

lie on back, knees bent and feet close to buttocks, arms at sides palms up, on exhaling press lower spine toward floor, on inhaling lift pelvis and mid-back and upper back

“Practicing yoga everyday can give you flexibility, strength, balance and a calmer, quieter mind,”  McEvoy said.

McEvoy practices a headstand.

McEvoy has been practicing yoga since1970 and teaching it since 1974.  He began teaching at the Integral Yoga Institute in Michigan.  Currently he teaches hatha yoga classes at the UCF Fitness Center and at Rollins College, coaches the women’s golf team  at Rollins and massages at the UCF Wellness Center.  In the summer of 2002, Rollins will offer yoga classes as part of its curriculum.

“Hopefully, I will be able to do the same here at UCF.”  McEvoy said.

Yoga classes are offered

Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 10:30 a.m.

and Wednesday at 5:30.