DU students practice and teach yoga.

1. DU students practice and teach yoga
Yoga is becoming increasingly popular among students at DU. In fact, Several DU
students are taking their passion for yoga to the next level and becoming certified
yoga instructors. They are registered in various yoga styles, from Bikram, a hot yoga, to
Vinyasa, a style focused upon synchronizing movement and breath.

2. According to the recent Yoga in America study by
Yoga Journal, about 8.7% of U.S. adults (18+)
practice yoga, which adds up to more than 20.4
million Americans. Approximately 82.2% of these
yogis, or yoga practitioners, are women.

3. People take yoga for many reasons. Some want to improve their flexibility, while others take
yoga for stress relief and spiritual reasons. Nevertheless, American yogis spend an
estimated $10.3 billion each year on yoga classes, equipment, clothing and other products.

4. “Yoga is a great workout,
and something that
everyone should try,”
Sam Pihl, a freshman DU
student said.

5. “Yoga is a way of life, it’s a spiritual practice,” Steph Winsor, a junior DU
student said. “I can feel it in my mind and my body when I miss a class.”

6. According to KCFitnessLink, the
average yoga instructor is
between 30 and 40 years old.
However, current participants in
yoga teacher training are
anywhere from 19 to 75 years
of age.

7. Basic yoga teacher certification requires 200 hours of training. Training includes
much more than just attending classes, observing classes, and teaching classes. For
some styles of yoga, training includes taking an anatomy lab, reading about the
history of yoga, writing essays, and attending lectures.

8. Winsor (top), a sophomore double
majoring in biology and public policy,
is currently four weeks away from
completing her certification in Vinyasa.

9. Katie Elles (right), a
senior at DU, wanted to
become a certified
instructor because she
loves reading about
meditation and yoga
philosophy, and wanted
to teach others about
body acceptance. After
achieving her Bikram
certification through an
intense training
program, Elles now
teaches twice a week at
CorePower studios.

10. CorePower Yoga offers teacher training in a variety of yoga styles. Sam Pihl, a
freshman at DU, achieved her yoga sculpt teacher certification through CorePower.
Sculpt yoga is a full body workout that incorporates free weights into the yoga poses.

11. When Winsor (middle)
started her teacher
training, she was unsure if
she actually wanted to
teach. Now, almost done
with her training, she
offers free weekly yoga
classes at her sorority
house, Delta Gamma.

12. Although Elles
plans to pursue a
career in public
health policy and
management, she
intends to keep
teaching.
“Yoga will always
be a part of my
life,” she said.