Students passing through campus on Sunday night might have noticed nearly 40 glow-in-the-dark bodies colorfully moving in unison during a neon yoga session in the Oval’s center at 7:30 p.m.
The hour-long Glow Yoga event, sponsored by Lululemon Athletica, engaged participants in meditation, mat poses and sun salutations, a traditional series of 12 poses, while wearing glowing bracelets and necklaces.
“I think it creates a cool scene, and people walking on campus can be more aware of it because anyone can just drop a mat and start practicing,” said Julie Wilkes, the event’s leader and community ambassador for Lululemon Athletica Columbus.
She said she promotes yoga practice because it brings energy, enjoyment and connectivity of the mind and body to life.
“I think the energy that yoga gives you is important,” Wilkes said. “I think in this day and age we need to learn how to calm ourselves and be more resilient and have a positive mind-set, so to me, that’s probably one of the best reasons for practicing.”
Rachel Weiler, a third-year in food science yoga instructor for OSU’s group fitness program, said the mental understanding in yoga is important because it allows people to put things into perspective and take care of themselves.
“There is something about going through your mind and what you are thinking and how it affects the rest of your body that definitely changes how you look at life,” Weiler said. “There’s definitely something there and a reason people have been doing it for centuries.”
She said yoga can help with almost anything, including digestive problems and cancerous diseases, but the connection between mind and body is most helpful for students.
“It’s probably the most important for college students because we are under so much stress,” Weiler said. “We are at a point in our lives where we are learning the bridge between living with parents and growing up, and it’s important to get in touch with yourself and learn who you are.”
Wilkes echoed the importance of yoga for college-aged individuals. She said finding a place to channel energy, especially with a full-course schedule, friends and work to balance, is an essential habit to develop and continue later in life.
She said some new participants don’t realize yoga’s physical benefits, including increased abdominal strength and overall toning of the body.
“I think people may do yoga because of the relaxation they will get from it, but then they see how much stronger their body is from it,” Wilkes said. “Many people start practicing for stress relief, but people are really surprised by the physical challenge it brings.”
Carly Syms, a fourth-year in architecture, said her aunt introduced her to yoga, and she practices for both the mental and physical benefits.
“I think it’s really relaxing, and even if you are doing hot yoga or something more strenuous, you are working out in a completely different way than running like most people do,” Syms said. “It’s a really holistic approach to exercise.”
An instructor for nine years, Wilkes said she has seen yoga help people overcome loss and difficulty in life, deal with the emotional aftermath of major weight loss, recover the ability to walk following an accident and engage the elderly in physical activity.
She said the most beautiful thing about yoga is that anyone can participate, regardless of age or mental and physical conditions. She said new participants should try it several times, connect with their instructor and remember yoga is about honoring who they are today.
“I would challenge every single person to just give it a chance because trying something new is always inspiring,” Wilkes said. “I’ve honestly never met somebody who has tried yoga and didn’t like it.”
Weiler is unsure the Glow Yoga event will encourage students to join the practice.
“I think people will notice it, but I’m not sure it will really make a difference in how people will think about yoga,” she said. “It’s still really cool and great for people that are already interested though.”
Located in the Short North and moving to an Easton location on Nov. 12, Lululemon Athletica offers free yoga classes on a regular basis, in addition to glow yoga, yoga “flash mobs” and cross-training events in and around Columbus. A full calendar is available at lululemon.com/columbus/columbus/events.
