Daniel Johnson
    Staff Writer

The practice and art of yoga has been a part of human society since its origins in Asia around the fifth and sixth century BCE.

Many major religions and philosophies include some form or tenet of yoga in their everyday practices, such as Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

During the workout and gym boom of the 1980s, the practice of yoga became a household name for physical, psychological and spiritual exercise in the Western world.

The practice of yoga is old enough to witness virtually every major event in human history, from the birth of religions and nations to the end of species of animals and the most powerful empires.

Last Tuesday, the university sought to experience some of the stress free experiences of the art, and held a yoga on the lawn session for the students on the front of the EUC lawn .

In a group that featured a little less than two dozen people, some were veterans of yoga, while others were just dipping their toe in the mental and physical exercise to check it out.

The students spent a little more than a half an hour stretching, focusing and moving around on either  mats or the grass.

As a number of students walked by and watched to see their own contemporaries and classmates spread out across the EUC lawn doing all these different types of yoga-stretches, the students participating practiced the tenet of Dhyana and kept focused on the individual leading the workout, Audrey Wagner, and her instructions.

Wagner talked about getting into yoga in the pass. “I first got into yoga when I was in college and took a few group exercise classes. It peaked my interest when I did them” she said.

“I then started to delve into it a little more personally and got a little more into meditation.”

As the instructor for the program, she talked about different programs for the exercise at and around the university, as well as the potential of a club starting up at UNCG.

“I think a yoga club would be a great outlet on campus if the students are interested in starting one” she said.

“We also have regular yoga classes at the campus rec with several different yoga instructor who are all very talented.”

According to Wagner, last Tuesday’s yoga on the lawn will not be the last one for the semester. Already planned out, there have already been two more yoga on the lawns sessions that will be held this semester, with always the option to add more for this and the following semester.

Student Noah Kline described how he feels yoga is an art that can be practiced by anyone.

“Anyone can do yoga, it is about finding your center through a series of stretches and poses” he said.

“People believe it is all about the stretching, but it is really not just about stretching. It is all about the breathing, and about finding your relaxation and uniting your mind, body, and spirit through all of that.”

When asked what he would say to someone on the fence of joining, he added how the routine is typically one of the most welcoming communities.

“Just show up to a class, everyone that is there is super chill, relax, and it is great” he said..

“Do not worry about what you look like, just do it.”

On the lawn, the heads of the event passed out water and mats for those who wanted them. And despite the humid, early September weather in the late afternoon, the students attending the event all enjoyed their time sweating on the EUC lawn. As said before, the group does have plans to have a few more yoga on the lawns before the semester ends. Audrey Wagner talked about getting yoga more well known around the campus.

“I think it would be great to start a Facebook group to sort of gauge interest and see how many people would want to get involved in something like that.”

Until then, try to live by the tenets, Yamas and Niyamas, which is about learning to find and be at peace with oneself, their families, friends and the community they reside.