Pilates and yoga on campus

Thin yoga mats decorated the floor in hues of purples and pinks.

Students from all majors, years and backgrounds came early, came late, came with friends, came alone. The instructor took her place at the front of the room, leading the group in warm-up stretches.

Relaxing music poured from the speakers as the class pumped their arms and legs in the air, keeping their abs taut and their breathing regular. Snow fell outside the Richmond Aerobics Room, and as it accumulated sighs of relief and giggles could be heard around the room.

Yoga conjures images of serenity and calm, of lotus blossoms and waterfalls, and that really weird music with monks chanting in the background. However, can someone unwind in a dorm room crammed with clutter, distractions and noisy neighbors?

"Absolutely," said Jamie Famiglietti, the head Residence Hall Fitness Programmer. "It's great to do in your dorm room, because you can stop and start it anytime. It's great stress relief."

Yoga not only relieves stress, it increases flexibility, improves balance and increases blood flow to the brain (which can lead to higher grades), according to Jessica Nyrop, the assistant director of aerobics and spinning at Alumni Arena.

Yoga's Siamese twin, Pilates, provides the same benefits with a more intense workout. The abdominals must be contracted through each exercise, yielding better posture and defined muscles. The moves also target other muscle groups, such as the glutes and triceps, making Pilates a full-body exercise.

"The motions are slow and controlled, so you really work your core," Famiglietti said.

Both yoga and Pilates classes are offered on North and South Campus. Registration, class times and locations are online at workshops.buffalo.edu, but registration is not necessary for attendance. Good attendance means improved fitness, as well as a chance to win prizes.

Nadine Brooks, a junior exercise and nutrition major who teaches Pilates as part of an internship, said that once the moves are mastered, Pilates and yoga can be used anywhere - even a dorm room.

Those who feel self-conscious as soon as they step foot into the gym, promptly feeling inadequate compared to the chiseled bodies around them, may be tempted to turn around and never return, despite their resolution to get in shape. But students who regularly attend the classes said the atmosphere is extremely welcoming.

"Yoga is very casual, and it's for any level," said Nicole Benoit, a sophomore dance and musical theatre major, who uses yoga and Pilates to prevent injuries. "I love it."

Pilates is a progressive workout, meaning the moves learned from class to class are improved upon in later weeks. Joining a class late does not mean playing catch up for the rest of the year, however - yoga and Pilates focus on individual mastery.

Each move can be modified based on skill level. The instructor will provide information on how to make a move slightly more or less challenging.

There are books and videos on yoga and Pilates out there, but a well-qualified instructor is the best way to go, according to Nyrop. And since classes on campus are free, why bother buying "Yoga for Dummies" or the Windsor Pilates DVDs?

"You don't even need a mat. A towel or piece of carpet will work just fine," Nyrop said.

Every student has a towel they can use in their dorm room, so there aren't any start-up costs for either class. Casual clothes that are non-restrictive work best - including pajamas. Shoes are not allowed and socks are optional.

Guys need not mistake yoga or Pilates for 'girly' exercises; a German man named Joseph Pilates invented the system in the 1930s.

Both gym-phobes and gym-nuts can benefit from adding yoga or Pilates to their exercise routine, "even if it's just going to class once a week," Famiglietti said.