Love Your Body: Yoga Workshop

Local Yoga studio owner, Michele Landis, instructed a yoga class in the Holland Union Building (HUB) Dance Studio on Tuesday, February 21 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. The event was hosted by the Clarke Forum for Contemporary Issues as part of Dickinson’s Love Your Body Week.

Amy Farrell, professor of American studies and women’s, gender and sexuality studies and Executive Director of the Clarke Forum, introduced Landis as an excellent yoga instructor who emphasizes the importance of the Health at Every Size (HASE) Movement. According to an informational flyer handed out by Farrell, the movement “supports people of all body types by promoting principles of respect, critical awareness and compassionate self-care.”

Before beginning the class, Landis related the story of her first exposure to yoga, which occurred with her travel partners while hiking the entirety of the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. As the class began, Landis dimmed the lights of the HUB Dance Studio. During the class, she highlighted the importance of nurturing compassion and care for the body. The class, which lasted an hour, combined various strengthening yoga poses with stretches and breathing practices.

Operations Coordinator for the Clarke Forum, Kimberly Flinchbaugh attended the event to try yoga again.

“I went to the event…because I’ve been wanting to try yoga again. The few times that I tried it, I thought that it was difficult and it hurt to hold the poses and was I never breathing correctly,” she maintained.

In relation to Love Your Body Week, Landis explained that one of her favorite aspects of her work as a yoga instructor is watching the change that her students have in their body image.

“I think that’s one of the most rewarding parts of the job, is to see people land in their bodies and really be comfortable.”

Flinchbaugh maintained that one of the highlights of the event was learning to self-respect during yoga.

“I enjoyed today’s yoga session because I changed my mind-set, thanks to the instructor, Michele Landis. Landis spoke to us before the session began and told us that the uncomfortable sensations our bodies may be feeling, whether it be stretching, muscle achiness, or fatigue, are all normal sensations and part of the practice of yoga,” Flinchaugh stated. “It is during these moments that we look inward and focus on our body and our breathing and think about nothing else. This is the part, the main part, that I missed when I tried yoga in the past.”

Her studio, Yoga at Simply Well, is located at 28 South Pitt St. Additionally, she teaches classes that are open to students and faculty every Thursday afternoon from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. in the HUB Dance Studio. Landis enjoys working with the Dickinson community, explaining that it offers a change from her normal routine.

“I work more with community members, so being part of student life is different and I do enjoy it.”