The Rise of Pilates and Yoga
Graphic by Emily Ulfig
Yoga is more than a sole trend for a “woman recovering from an eating disorder.” It is a means of celebrating the body, breath, and soul. It means accepting in stillness and being in the present moment with not others, but mind and body.
It can be difficult to be alone with your body, to be gentle with it, and to combat negative thoughts that manage to flow through your practice. Taking time to be kind to ourselves, to move our bodies in unstressful ways, and to be faced with a fitness industry that praises calorie burn and often neglects intuitive movement is not an easy task.
Yoga has allowed me to challenge myself with complexity while also finding comfort and stress release in poses like down dog or cat-cow. It is vital to recognize that yoga originated in northern India, and the word “yoga” is derived from Sanskrit roots which mean ‘yoking’ and ‘connection.’ Yoga has become Westernized in the 20th century, but it’s important to recognize its religious context and roots in spirituality for many.
When yoga and pilates started to become trendy in American culture I was at the very least… absolutely elated. Whether you want to admit it or not, it was a drastic shift in the fitness industry that altered the idea of what “acceptable” movement was. Any movement is good movement, as long as it serves the individual's fitness and mental health goals. Pilates especially has elevated “bow” culture and aestheticized the idea of flexibility, muscular exertion, and moving your body in a more gentle (but still highly effective) way.
If you want to start doing yoga, I recommend trying out yoga classes at the Rec Well Center on campus. The Rec offers Yoga Flow, which moves dynamically from one position to the next. The classes are on Sunday evenings at 5:15 p.m., Wednesday mornings at 6:45 a.m., and on Fridays at 4 p.m. I love going to classes that are on Sundays as they provide a nice reset to my week and allow me to release any tension and stress remaining in my body. Core Power Yoga also has a studio in Minneapolis and gives any new people a free week to try it out.
You don’t by any means have to have fancy equipment, expensive mats, and fitness clothes that scream yoga- just bring yourself. Yoga is about trying dynamic stretches and poses that challenge your muscles and the sole ability to find peace in staying still, and that is where the beauty lies.