Whether the union of mind body and soul or the quest to be Madonna-esqe, yoga pumped arms drives enthusiasts to class, millions have tried the 5,000 year-old art.
Instructor Ruth Fisk began practicing yoga before it was hip enough to draw 15 million Americans in search of bliss. She’s been an instructor for 15 years, a student of yoga for 20.
“It helps balance all the body’s systems, physically and spiritually,” said Fisk, a teacher at the Center for Yoga, 1770 E. Grand River Ave.
“Yoga has become popular as a form of fitness, and that’s where most people start. But if you have an instructor that takes you inward, into the practice of what yoga really is - which is the study of one’s self through the actions and the practices - then something else happens.”
That something else is a better sense of yourself, Fisk said. It may mean better meaning in life, less judgment and criticism or a change in certain habits.
Fisk is a student of Hatha yoga, the yoga of activity. There are many types of Hatha, and Fisk teaches Iyengar, which concentrates on carefully aligning the body, using blocks, pillows and straps to help students who lack flexibility.
Most fitness centers teach some kind of Hatha yoga. There are eight schools of yoga, which include Bhakti, mostly about prayer, to Tantra, which mainly concerns sex.
One physically challenging type of yoga is Ashtanga, which has students jumping from one pose to another to build strength, stamina and flexibility. Jivamukti is an Ashtanga variation and the yoga Madonna is said to prefer. It emphasizes spiritual training, including chanting and meditation.
Jo Martinie is an instructor for the MSU Yoga Club and instructs to faculty and staff at the Union.
“The relaxation is a big point of it,” Martinie said of those who take her class. “Just de-stressing from their day, getting in touch with themselves, and for a lot of them, it’s improving their flexibility.
“For some people, depending on who they are and where they are in life it’s the idea of doing something nice for themselves.”
