College bound? On-campus yoga gets high marks

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It’s no surprise. Yoga is positively impacting college and university life for more students.

“My classes continue to fill up every semester,” says Yoga Instructor, Constance McKnight. The adjunct and alumni of AdelphiUniversity in New York is gearing up to teach her two-credit, one-semester Yoga class for the ninth year, out of the Ruth S. Ammon School of Education, through its Department of Exercise Science, Health Studies, Physical Education and Sport Management.

The majority of McKnight’s students tend to be juniors and seniors who are ‘in the know,’ so for interested incoming freshmen and sophomores, "Register early before the hour and fifteen minute classes of twenty students each close out," says McKnight.

Beyond postures and breath work, “My intention is to prepare them through the benefits of yoga, for their future careers,” says McKnight.

More than a fitness program, McKnight’s class covers meditation, Savasana (final relaxation), visualizing, focusing, centering, self-awareness, mantras and affirmations. In addition, students learn both the English and Sanskrit names of most poses, Karma yoga, partner and group yoga activities and simple chants such as OM.

To support her students, “I use props, bolsters, wall, and straps,” says McKnight, who was trained in Iyengar, but also mixes in some vinyasa (flow), restorative and laughing yoga styles.