I used to perpetuate this idea in my mind that people who do yoga are automatically professionals and one cannot simply jump in on something so exclusive. I decided to give it a try and participate in my first yoga class at FSU’s Leach a few days ago, and I could not have been more incorrect.

I walked in with zero flexibility and zero knowledge about specific poses and the types of equipment I’d need to use. Usually I’m a high-stress, high-anxiety person, and this class truly helped me manage. I never really thought I’d enjoy something like this, but going with a small group of friends really relieved me of my ridiculous worries.

When we walked in and set up our mats I felt like everyone was looking at me; that I was doing my poses incorrectly and that I was embarrassing myself. I definitely would not consider myself proficient in the art of yoga, but I was not as bad as I thought I would be. I truly focused on myself for the full hour, and I left the class feeling so much better about myself, my goals, my future, my health, everything. The whole purpose of the class was to restore, and it did just that. Everything from the teacher to the atmosphere made me feel welcome.

The class was on a Tuesday, and it set the perfect tone for the rest of my week. It left me feeling energized and happy, and I am so glad I did it. My breathing was aligned, my body was in sync, and I was focused on one thing: me. It is extremely important to take the time to care for yourself, especially when the daily stresses of school are completely crashing down on you. I’ve found that classes offered by the Leach are much harder than you’d think, and are the perfect stress relievers. The Leach literally has free classes for any FSU student, and that’s better than any other gym membership around.