Yogis at AUC Enjoy Free Sessions

By: Nesrien Abdelkader 

@NesrienAshraf 

In an effort to boost class attendance rates and promote healthy living, the Office of Athletics is offering free yoga and core classes until the end of February.

Recreational and Fitness Manager Amira Farag explained that the classes every Monday and Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. in the gardens are easily accessible for students as well as faculty and staff. Participants can now have a quick simple workout session before starting their day.

“I’m trying to grab attention from the other side of the university because we only have a small number of people who come here [Sports Complex] to attend the classes. I want them to come and start to change their lifestyle,” Farag said. 

The classes, which are about 30 minutes long, are part of an attempt to raise awareness of the paid classes offered in the complex.  

The Office of Athletics offers daily yoga, core training, zumba and dancing classes for members of the AUC community and outsiders. It costs students EGP 300 for monthly unlimited classes. 

“When we started here in 2009 until 2012, the classes had over 40 participants, which is crazy. We used to stop people from coming to the classes because we didn’t have enough space,” Farag said. 

The current average amount of participants per class is around eight to 10 and Farag believes it has to do with an issue of convenience, as well as students simply being unaware of the classes. 

For those who do participate, yoga and core training can have physical, mental and spiritual benefits. 

AUC Yoga Instructor Amr Aman, who offers classes in the sports complex, said that it allows one to complete a full body workout and stretching poses within a short period of time. Yogis can also improve body and mind balance, as well as their focus. 

“The yoga community has peaceful vibes. There’s the idea of sharing positive vibes that you give and receive. Within the yoga class, you feel like you’re sharing good with people,” he said. 

Public Administration graduate Istanbul Abdulsalam Ba’abbad, an avid yogi, found the free yoga classes helpful to release her stress and was impressed by the instructor’s professionalism. 

“Practicing yoga in the fresh air is a totally different experience. [I was] with a group of energetic people that encouraged me to continue even if sometimes I felt tired,” she said. 

After attending the free yoga session, Ba’abbad plans on signing up for additional classes in the sports complex. 

In addition to yoga, participants can also join in on the free core classes.

Core Instructor at the sports complex Farah Hossam explained that some of the benefits of this discipline include increased flexibility for muscle recovery and releasing tension, especially in the neck and shoulder area. Core classes consist of a full body stretching of all muscles. 

“For people who come before work, this is like a 30 minute [break]. Come relax and be able to start the day. As simple as it is, it gives you a lot of energy in the morning,” Hossam said. 

She added that these classes target those who work in offices or sit at desks for a long time.

Communication and Media Arts junior Mai Hagras and Construction Engineering graduate Amira Tobaa attended together and agreed that they would return for further classes. 

“We wanted something new to get positive energy so we decided to go to yoga. We really liked the idea of having it in the morning in the open air,” Tobaa said.

Hagras added that the class was so relaxing that she could feel the negative energy leaving her body.