All Colorado College students, regardless of major or hobby, are familiar with the constant struggle to balance school, extracurriculars, social life, and personal health (both mental and physical). The Fitness Center’s new “Bedtime Yoga” class has proven to be a popular and effective way for students to de-stress, unwind, and make time for themselves throughout the block. Senior Ellen Atkinson started teaching the class, which met bi-weekly during Block 3, in an effort to help students unwind and focus on the tasks ahead.
Atkinson herself has been practicing yoga for 10 years, and has practiced in places as different as Israel and Crestone, Colo. “The yoga mat is a place to leave everything else behind,” said Atkinson. “It is a place without judgment, even of how my body feels on any given day. My philosophy of yoga is that the practice should be centering, calming, healing, and focused on cultivating the inner self, while taking care of and celebrating the body.”
With Atkinson wanting to bring this philosophy to CC, the class was originally brought up because there were no open time slots for her to teach. “It’s been a hit, and I will continue teaching bedtime yoga on Monday nights during fourth block,” said Atkinson. Her classes place focus on alignment to protect the body and avoid injury. Atkinson aims to have all beginners feel completely safe and comfortable in her class.
While many see yoga as simply a physical practice meant to get you in better shape, they often overlook the emotional and psychological benefits that it offers as well. “Most CC students are busy all day, and few students take time to relax and center themselves before bed. Bedtime yoga is a solution, especially for those who can’t find time in their schedules or are not morning people,” said Atkinson.
In the style of a traditional yoga class, Atkinson’s bedtime yoga ends in shavasana, or corpse pose. Although it may look like they’re taking a nap, the yogis in shavasana are in a fully conscious pose that requires one to be both awake and completely relaxed. “Yoga is highly misunderstood in the West, but it was first developed as a means of achieving unity with the inner self,” said Atkinson. “My goal is for everyone in my classes to feel like they achieved a higher level of unity, or respect for, and symbiosis with the self.”
The atmosphere of the class itself is relaxing, with low, warm lighting, soothing essential oils, and an assortment of hot drinks. “After shavasana, it’s tempting to not get up again, so the class time is designed to usher students towards the shores of sleep,” said Atkinson. “I provide hot drinks like tea or cider and utilize calming essential oils during shavasana. Intentionally, bedtime yoga is designed to rinse out the stresses and worries of the day and start a clean slate for the next day.”
Along with the spiritual aspects of the class, Atkinson includes a range of asanas, or poses, of varying difficulty to offer the students a physical challenge as well. Yoga students are encouraged to take the challenge as far as they’d like, making it easy to have a variety of skill levels in each class. For advanced practitioners, Atkinson offers instruction in headstands and other inversions, while those less experienced can modify the exercise. “I always say that all levels are welcome in my classes,” said Atkinson. “All yoga poses are attainable for all students; it is a matter of discerning which poses you should or should not do based upon medical history, injury, and even how you felt when you woke up that day or if you are sore from the gym.”
Although she is currently immersed in studying the History and Political Science of the Middle East, Atkinson is waiting to hear back from the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, where she applied to teach yoga at the El Paso Criminal Justice Center with inmates, and is applying for a grant to teach yoga in prisons in Baltimore next summer.
Atkinson’s integration of her studies in social justice and her yoga practice are a perfect example of the CC liberal arts experience.
Atkinson hopes to reach more students who feel like their yoga needs are not being met at CC and to provide a deeply fulfilling and enriching class environment and session. Atkinson’s bedtime yoga will meet every Monday of fourth block from 9-10:30 p.m. in the Louis Multipurpose Room, in addition to her Wednesday and Friday morning sunrise classes.
Although she recognizes that many people find it difficult to leave their houses and walk to yoga in the dark and freezing cold, she encourages all students to join her in clearing their minds, reflecting, and preparing themselves for the rest of the block.