University of Mississippi Hosts Successful Sunset Yoga Event for Students, Prepares for Future Sessions

Rest and relaxation: UM Campus Recreation hosts sunset yoga

In a soothing combination of mindful relaxation and a picturesque sunset, the University of Mississippi Campus Recreation orchestrated a free Sunset Yoga class on April 22 for the student body. Aimed at helping scholars ease the strenuous demands of coursework and approaching finals, the event was a soothing blend of tranquility and fitness embraced by attendees under the orange-gold hues of the setting sun.

About the Instructor

The Sunset Yoga class was led by Mary Hazel Bellan, a junior biochemistry major at the University. Since the previous two semesters, Mary has been offering yoga instruction at South Campus Recreation Center. The idea of integrating yoga into her life emerged during high school amidst the constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting as a recreational pursuit and easy workout alternative, yoga gradually turned into impassioned engagement for Bellan.

Event Organization

Sydney Rott, an aspiring master’s degree scholar in exercise science and an employee at the South Campus Recreation Center, played a crucial role in coordinating the event. The concept of organizing outdoor yoga had emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic but was repeated this time around because of the balmy weather. The event saw full participation, with all 30 slots getting filled with a mix of beginners and regular students from Bellan’s class.

Attendee Experiences and Aspirations

Cindy Pan and Aisha Ghimire, diligent followers of Bellan’s Monday yoga class and Ph.D. candidates in business administration expressed their pleasure at being a part of this unique experience. Ghimire articulated her hopes for more of such fitness events in an open environment. “We love coming just to be able to relax our minds,” Ghimire said, adding, “I hope that they do more of these classes outside.”

Keely May, a senior majoring in public policy leadership and a recent Zen-seeker shared similar sentiments. “Yoga brings such a sense of community that I was not expecting when I started,” said Keely. She pointed out how she managed to forge friendships and network with others, creating an accepting, close-knit community.

Insights about Yoga

Mary Morgan-Bryan, the proprietor of the local Baptiste Power Yoga Center, opines that yoga is a multifold mental health enhancer. She states, “Anxiety, stress, and depression are very common reasons I hear people seek out the practice of yoga.” She explains the calming and restorative effect yoga has on individuals by shifting the focus from the sympathetic nervous system (the basis for the ‘fight or flight’ response) to the parasympathetic nervous system.

Highlighting the community aspect of group fitness, Bellan agreed, “In general, yoga is known to be good to calm the mind and body, but I think specifically the group fitness aspect is extra fun for the community and connection aspect.”

Future Prospects

Post-event success has inspired the campus recreation center to consider incorporating more sunset yoga classes open to all students in their event calendar. “It would be nice to do some in the fall when it is still warm next semester, and we definitely want to continue them in the spring, too,” said Sydney Rott, expressing her hopes for expanding the horizon of such wellness initiatives.