Madison Bowe / Winonan

There are many different types of yoga, which yogis can participate in. Aerial yoga involves swinging from hammocks, and Ashtanga yoga is a very athletic and vigorous type of yoga. On Wellness Wednesday, the yoga newbies focused mostly on the basic steps of yoga, known as the great salutation.

The great salutation involves a series of 22 different moves yogis can guide themselves through to help channel their focus, strength and their stamina. The great salutation is also a great way to channel relaxation, one of the main things practicing yogis strive for.

Yoga is a great activity for many reasons. Yoga has many physical benefits, and it also contributes to a positive wellbeing regarding mental health.

Yoga increases flexibility, stamina and it also has been shown to release stress and enact relaxation. Participating in yoga allows you to clear your mind of stressors and focus on yourself and your fitness.

“There’s been a lot of studies about yoga and how it can help you, and one study showed that it can increase your flexibility up to 35 percent,” sophomore Jenny Connell said.

There are many things aspiring yogis can do to better their experience while practicing. Yogis should find a quiet space where they can focus, with their cell phone turned off.

It is also important for to yogis allow adequate time between eating and practicing yoga so a digesting stomach does not distract them.  They should focus inwardly on themselves and their different postures while also focusing on their breathing and their balance.

Yogis should remember to bring themselves back to their practice if their mind begins to wander, only focusing on themselves and their different postures. Practicing yoga should give yogis a newfound sense of relaxation and comfort.

“It’s used today to increase health and wellbeing,” Health Promotion Programming GA Johnna Miller said.

A great place to begin to learn these yoga techniques is by attending the free yoga classes Winona State University has to offer. A few different types of yoga classes are offered multiple times each week in the Integrated Wellness Complex.

These classes are great for beginners as well as more advanced yogis, or for anyone who is looking to improve their skills. The fitness instructors make being a beginner easy even though it can be challenging and intimidating to start a new activity.

“I’ve been to a few classes here and I liked it,” first-year Kammie Williams said.

Students who are more interested in learning the basic techniques of yoga and trying them out for themselves should visit the Winona State Fitness Facebook page to obtain the schedule of classes. From there potential yogis should head over to the Integrated Wellness Complex to begin a yoga journey.