Yoga class makes spiritual practical

Paula Williams of Barnum has been doing yoga since 1999, for the past five at The Nest Wellness Center in Cloquet.

“I started doing yoga when I decided it was a good way to exercise but it was also a spiritual form of exercise,” she recalled. “I wanted to find a way to be more physical and the fact that it had some kind of grounding in spiritual wisdom was compelling.”

Not only has Williams gotten stronger, but she has learned to breathe again, something she said helps her destress on a daily basis.

“Yoga is very specific to your breathing,” she said. “It is similar to meditating. So often our life is running around holding our breath. Yoga makes you realize how tight you were and how breathing can help you relax. It helps you pay attention to your breathing and you might do that more in your day-to-day life because of learning it in yoga class. Our body is holding so much tension and stress.”

If you’re wondering if yoga is just for the young and agile, Williams would quickly tell you otherwise.

“The class is so awesome because I just turned 50 but I’m relatively young in that group,” she said. “You truly could do this until the end of your life because the poses are adjusted to whatever you can do,” she said.

The Nest Wellness Center in Cloquet offers several classes. Find out more at thenestwellnessstudio.com. Also check with your local Community Education office or fitness centers for yoga and other classes. Ann Markusen also offers yoga at the Cromwell Park Pavilion at 11 a.m. on most Mondays.