With its controlled movements, deep stretches and emphasis on mental awareness and breath, yoga is a low-impact activity whose benefits can be enjoyed by all. Under a new program, yoga classes will be available to Parks and Recreation members at least 18 years old at 8 a.m. Saturdays in the community center multi-purpose room starting this weekend.
After moving to Wrangell in October from North Carolina, Yoga Alliance certified teacher Rachel Lange quickly reached out to Lucy Robinson of Parks and Recreation about offering classes through the department. “The people of Wrangell have been hungry for a yoga class for a while,” said Robinson. “Rachel is a certified yoga instructor, and she is willing to volunteer her time, so it was a natural fit.” After completing a background check and safety certification, Lange was approved to teach.
When she started practicing in 2007, it was love at first asana. Yoga “was something that I knew was for me,” Lange said. “I found it very calming and a way for me to handle stress.” She also appreciated the accessibility of yoga, since her scoliosis makes it difficult to participate in high-intensity sports. “It was a non-impact way of exercising for me and knowing that it would still help build muscle and strength,” she said.
“Yoga has loads of benefits,” said Robinson. A regular yoga practice can improve mental health, stress management and quality of sleep, according to the National Institutes of Health. The balance, flexibility and strength that the activity fosters can also benefit athletes’ performance in other sports.
Though it’s easy to practice yoga in the comfort of your own home to the calming voice of an online instructor, receiving real-time feedback on form from an in-person teacher and participating in the activity as a community are also crucial, Robinson added.
Lange graduated from the Asheville Yoga Center in 2018, where she learned how to modify her classes for participants of all ages, body types, and abilities. Meeting students where they’re at is central to her teaching philosophy — if a student isn’t grasping a concept, she’ll explain it in different ways until it clicks.
Lange’s class will cater to all skill levels, “from someone who has never taken a yoga class to someone who has taken hundreds.” She encourages community members to check out the class, regardless of their prior experience with the practice. “You would be surprised at how beneficial yoga can be,” she said.
Attendees should wear comfortable clothes that they can move in and bring a water bottle and yoga mat, if they have one. Some mats are available to borrow through Parks and Recreation, but supplies are limited.
A Parks and Recreation membership does not cover the cost of the class — the drop-in fee is $5 and $3 for seniors. Punch cards are available for patrons who prefer to track the classes they attend and pay a lump sum later.
“I am really excited to offer yoga to this community,” said Lange. “And so very honored, actually.”
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