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Ever looked at a particularly bendy person and thought, "I wish I could do that?" Maybe you went with the old, "I could do that—I just choose not to" mode of denial. Perhaps yoga isn’t as intimidating as you think. The University of Washington Tacoma is offering yoga classes in partnership with the Tacoma Center YMCA.

The yoga classes at the YMCA are open to all students, faculty and staff. The fee is $30 for ten classes located at the Longshoremen’s Hall. Especially beneficial to stressed-out students and staff, this particular course of yoga combines stretching with strengthening movements for a low impact workout.

"Yoga improves flexibility, develops cardiovascular fitness and helps improve body awareness," said Sian Davies-Vollum, associate professor of Geosciences at UWT. Davies-Vollum teaches classes at Sourceyoga in Tacoma.

There are two important terms to remember when discussing yoga. Asana is the word for individual poses. Hatha is the general term for a group of poses.

Given that yoga originated in India nearly 5,000 years ago, it’s no surprise that there are many different kinds, or schools, of yoga.

"There are as many different schools as there are flavors of ice cream," Davies-Vollum said.

She said that there are four schools that are most popular in the United States: Vinyasa, Iyengar, Ashtanga and Bikram.

One of the great things about yoga is that almost anybody can do it, Davies-Vollum said. She’s seen the remarkable transformation most students new to the philosophy experience after just a few weeks.

"I encourage everybody to try yoga," Davies-Vollum said. "I think it has something for everybody."

If you’re worried about losing that energetic drive at our mostly commuter campus, know that your student leaders are still looking out for your health and happiness. Their planning is mostly what brought about our ability to use the Longshoremen’s Hall.

Yoga classes run every Monday through Dec. 4, from 12:45 to 1:45 at the Longshoremen’s Hall at 1710 Market Street.