by Olivia Snyder ’12

Yoga is an untapped and often overlooked source of exercise; one that is especially unknown to students. When Olney teenagers think exercise, their minds immediately go to Fitness First. However, Olney has another local source of exercise, which is yoga at the Yin Yang Yoga Center.

Yoga is a system of exercises aimed at controlling and calming the body and mind. Many kinds of yoga exist – some focus on stretching while others concentrate on providing a sweat-worthy workout (like power yoga). All yoga variations, however, focus on centering the body, spirit and mind to provide both a physical and mental tune-up.

Alicia Cuervo, founder of Olney’s yoga establishment and avid yogi herself, started Yin Yang Yoga Center just a few years ago in September of 2009. “I decided to open the center to share the gift of yoga to others; it was and still is such a blessing in my life. It gives me strength and leaves me feeling fantastic. Plus, I love the challenge of it.”

Yoga’s benefits on both the mind and body are manifold. Practicing yoga improves flexibility and muscle joint mobility, strengthens, tones and builds muscles, corrects posture, strengthens the spine, increases stamina, creates balance and grace, improves digestion, increases circulation, and encourages weight loss.

The intangible benefits that yoga encourages are just as numerous. Yoga increases body awareness, relieves stress in the body, refreshes the body by relieving muscle strain, relaxes the mind and body, centers attention, sharpens concentration and frees the spirit.

Despite yoga’s long list of positive effects, and the availability of a yoga center, most teenagers in Olney do not take advantage of the opportunity to practice it. “I think that yoga has gotten a reputation for being an ‘old persons’ exercise, or simply a form of stretching,” conceded Cuervo. “Anyone who has been in one of our classes knows that yoga is actually an amazing workout. You leave feeling strong, lean and stretched.”

Yoga is especially helpful to student athletes. Athletes from Every sport from wrestling to diving to football benefit from yoga because stretching and muscle building go hand in hand. In order to maintain and improve muscle strength, muscles must also be lengthened. “Yoga is more than exercise; it helps athletes to understand their bodies in a new way,” explained Cuervo. “Knowing what is tight or weak can make the difference between a healthy or injured athlete. Yoga gives the athlete an edge.”

The Yin Yang Yoga Center offers anything and everything to satisfy both the seasoned yogi and the curious beginner. The center will soon offer teen classes as well as more high energy “hip-hop” classes. Yin Yang Yoga Center offers Olney an alternative source for exercise, one that is essential to both the serious athlete and the devoted health nut, as well as the average student looking for a more exciting way to get in shape. The effects of yoga are simply too beneficial for teens to pass up.