Culture
CAMPUS CULTURE
Yoga:
For those who do not ski, snowboard, have a
gym membership, or have never laid a hand on
any form of workout equipment, there is an al
ternative exercise that is not only good for the
body but also the mind and soul: yoga.
In a nation full of crazy dieting antics and non
stop infomercials advertising the newest exer
cise device, yoga, provides an outlet for people
who still want a physical workout or to find
peace within themselves.
The winter months are harsh for everyone.
People feel less inclined to leave their houses, let
alone exercise, unless it is necessary. While
some households may have the means to get in
the recommended 30 minutes of cardio each day,
others do not have treadmills or elliptical ma
chines available at all times.
Even those who do have elaborate apparatuses
may not use them as often during winter be
cause their bodies cannot take the stress. All
workout regimens require commitment, and
yoga is convenient enough to be done at home,
or anywhere for that matter, without the use of
any extra materials.
Yoga is a meditative practice of posing in dif
ferent postures that largely deal with the chakras
or energy centers of the body. It is beneficial to
anyone and everyone who wishes to try this pop
ular practice. This sport is for people who do not
want an overly strenuous and grueling workout,
but something more calming that can tone and
shape the body.
Yoga releases the strains of daily life. It’s a
time to connect with your inner self and be in a
state of peace. You become aware of your body
and mind and go deep within your soul, while
getting to the root of what’s troubling you. This
is a way to manage emotions in a different and
more positive light by still challenging yourself
CAMPUS CULTURE
an alternative way of
the body
in different poses.
The Columbia College of Physicians
and Surgeons has concluded that
yoga helps strengthen the body
and can greatly reduce anxiety
and depression
SHANNON EHRIN
culture editor
There are count
less ways that yoga
improves the health
and well-being of
human beings.
People have
experienced
improved
breathing, . A
blood Np
pressure, A
immunity, «
memory,
balance,
and the
list goes
on and
on.
Each
semester,
Behrend
offers
two yoga
classes.
Both are
basic begin
ner classes,
but in the past
there has been a
second, more ad
vanced class for
those looking to be
come proficient in yoga.
Brian Streeter, Athletic Di
rector at Penn State Behrend,
has had a very positive re
sponse from students re-
*garding the yoga classes. Behrend has in
eluded yoga as a kinesiology class for at
least six years now. About thirty students
occupy each session,
keeping the atmos
phere quiet and “mel
low,” Streeter says.
Lani Weissbach, one of
Behrend’s yoga in
structors, ap
proached
Streeter about
teaching yoga.
Wesleying.org
/ /
//,
also instructs yoga
classes at the Glenwood
YMCA.
“I have seen amazing results
Rado Empire
Straight from the depths of Erie comes
the pop-punk powerhouse known as Radio
Empire.
In a scene that is plagued with countless
hardcore bands that sound the same and
music that is just lacking in general, Radio
Empire comes to save the day with their
original sound and energetic perform
ances
Forming frofiTfEe ashes of past bands
like.Stillframe Sky and Fireworks Effect
the members have come together to pro
vide great music with a soul and are only
bound to continue to grow and keep mas
tering their sound.
I was lucky enough to sit down and talk
[through Facebook Chat] with the lovable
Jess Scutella, who plays drums in the
band and is currently a Freshman BLASC
Major at Behrend.
Q: What is your band and what are they
all about?
A: Radio Empire is the name and we
started writing together last year in
March. Myself, Tyler James [vocals and
guitar], and Tyler Woodruff [bass] make
the band now. We are proud to say we are
an extremely hard-working band that at
tempts to write the most personal music
and relate to our awesome fans and
friends.
Q: How did the band form?
A: Well, after Tyler's old band broke up he
immediately started writing with a new
state of mind, with an old member of our
band Johnny Fleming. He then started
asking around and T-woody (Tyler
Woodruff) and I jumped on!
Q: What have you guys as a band already
accomplished and what do you hope to
accomplish in the future?
A: Being together as a band for less than
a year now has been pretty crazy. We have
released a self-titled EP (Extended Play)
and survived a two-week tour that ex
panded out to Indiana. We have also
opened for such bands as Bayside, May
day Parade, The Wonder Years, The Audi
tion, and Grave Robber. Which makes us
pretty lucky! We also just released our
full-length album, entitled "Wishing Well."
We are extremely excited to just play more
and more shows, meet more amazing peo
ple, and go as far as possible with this
band.
Q: How can peopte listen to youand get
your album?
Streeter
says, “[lt
was] an op
portunity
to give
students
som e -
thing dif
fer e n t
other
than your
t jt-p rclil
soccer or
basket
ball class.”
Weissbach
has been
practicing
yoga for 14
years and has
been an instruc
tor for 11 years.
Besides teaching at
Behfend, Weissbach
DAN KINEM
senior reporter
Behrend Beacon 111
February 19, 2010 I I
www.thebehrendbeacon.com | J. JL
exercising
and mind
with the yoga classes I teach at Behrend," Weiss
bach says. “At the very least, students feel more
relaxed and less stressed, and at the most they
are utterly transformed. They quit smoking,
health problems go away and they feel they have
a new lease on life, in a way. It is very gratify
ing!”
Yoga classes are offered every day of the
week, including an afternoon class for faculty
and staff. Thought has been given to providing
weekend yoga classes, but no official plans have
been made.
Christina Much, a freshman majoring in ac
counting, is enrolled in one of the yoga classes.
Mucha was familiar with yoga, but never had
any “formal experience."
“I really like it. Honestly, it's my favorite class,"
says Mucha. “I leave feeling better and rejuve
nated and at peace with the world. It’s good for
the body, and it’s not physically exhausting,"
says Mucha.
In June, a Zumba class, another aerobic fit
ness class combining different dance move
ments and cultural music, will be offered to
faculty and staff for a trial run and then eventu
ally to students in the fall.
Streeter says “we would rather offer kinesiol
ogy classes that are lifetime skill classes for stu
dents that benefit them the rest of their lives."
While not all students are able to take the yoga
classes here at Behrend because of the limited
number of spaces, the Erie area has plenty of
studios that also offer various types of yoga for
people who are new and may not know much
about the proper movements and breathing.
Some even waive the fee for the first class.
Weissbach says “that if you are a beginner in
terested in trying yoga, try to find a good teacher,
as this can make a world of difference in your
understanding of the material and being able to
truly embody it. DVDs are okay, but not nearly a
s effective in transmitting the ultimate depth and
wisdom of this ancient practice."
A: Well, of course, anybody can come tp
our shows and pick one up. Or very soon
people will be able to purchase both of our
CDs online at iTunes, Amazon and My-
Space. Plus, our music is on other various
music websites, such as Last.fin. Purevol
ume, and iLike. So check them out there!
Q: Why should people listen to you guys?
A: Well, besides being a pop-punk band
we write stuff that is also out of the typical
pop-punk boundaries. It's all about mak
ing sure that people enjoy it and can even
tell us how they relate. That makes it
worthwhile for us.
Q: Any last words or thoughts?
A: Well, we are here, and we are putting
everything into this band! We like to say
we are unstoppable! For some of us this is
our last chance with music, and we hope
everyone can relate and enjoy it as much
as we do! Please come talk to us or add us
http://www.myspace.com/radioempiremu
sic!
Contributed Photo: facebook.com
From left to right: Jess Scutella , Tyler
James, Tyler Woodruff
• •
K ,A\ |Cjy
MySpace