Yoga enthusiasts practice call and response chanting during the yoga for peace at the Lotus Yoga Center on September 24, 2010. (Kelsey Morris/Collegian)
The smell of Indian food wafted through the Lotus Yoga Center as university students and Centre County Big Brothers Big Sisters members gathered on floor pillows preparing for an hour of yoga.
“Yoga’s a really good release of stress and it allows positive energy to come through,” Jennifer Rockwell (junior-public relations) said. “I also think it’s really cool that Big Brother Big Sister is working with this — it’s such a great cause.”
Rebecca Thorsen, a mentor for the Centre County Big Brothers Big Sisters program, came to the yoga session through an invite from the organization.
“I’ve done yoga before,” she said. “I found it relaxing. It takes me a little outside my comfort zone, which is a fun thing to do. Really I’ve come tonight to make a new friend through the program, and to have fun.”
Erica Kaufman, owner of Lila Yoga Studio said the majority of classes were filled throughout the weekend, and the studios raised $1,280.
The Centre County Yoga Teachers Association organized this weekend of free yoga in an effort to exhibit the growing yoga movement in Centre County. Since last winter, four new studios for yoga have opened in State College.
“This is a real celebration of yoga in our county,” said Kaufman. “It’s a beautiful time for yoga, a real renaissance of joy — there is more now than there has been in the past.”
Kaufman said the Yoga 4 Peace weekend, seeking to inspire peace from the inside out, is a celebration of International Peace Day. The yoga studios of Centre County opened their doors to a weekend of free yoga, inviting both novices and experts to join together in peace.
Students said they agree yoga helps reduce stress levels and improve overall health.
Michael Policelli (senior-materials science and engineering) does yoga at least once a week. He also said yoga greatly helps health and fitness.
Kaufman said the weekend had been a success — she enjoyed the aid she could give to the Big Brothers Big Sisters program and other local causes.
“One of the great things about living in a small town is that the impact of one person, or one business is really felt — it feels good to have a yoga studio that is bringing goodness to our town,” she said.
The power of yoga can enhance everyday life, Kaufman said.
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Yoga enthusiasts practice call and response chanting during the yoga for peace at the Lotus Yoga Center on September 24, 2010. (Kelsey Morris/Collegian) 
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