Feeling stressed over finals? Try yoga.
The Penn Women's Center touted this method at a Free-Yoga-Free-Yogurt event this past Saturday.
During the event, nutrition counselor, massage therapist and yoga instructor Jillian Bird took students' minds off life's daily stresses by teaching basic yoga moves. This was followed by an hour of discussion about nutrition while students snacked on yogurt and granola.
Bird's main concern was to make sure students don't rely on caffeine and sugar to get them through the stress of finals.
The five girls who attended the event were greeted by the Center's shelves of DVDs like 13 Going on 30 and Erin Brockovich, a massive supply of feminist books including I Heart Female Orgasms and a huge basket filled with condoms.
The students were told to sit on yoga mats while Bird introduced herself.
She explained that she normally leads all types of activities, ranging from massage therapy to hip-hop yoga, during the Women Center's weekly "Feel Good Fridays."
One exercise Bird taught was an energizing yoga technique that also functions as an abdominal workout. She calls it the "Shining Skull," and explained it as a technique in which, once seated with crossed legs, you simply take a big breath in and blow out sharp and quick breaths of air for about twenty seconds.
College freshman Chrissy Allen said the event was the perfect opportunity to get out her non-school related anxiety.
"Yoga was an amazing way to take out all of my tensions and stress," she wrote in an e-mail.
The Center's "Feel Good Fridays" are a free way for Penn students to relax every week.
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