J1 Reporter Courtney Doherty

When senior Sofia Hingorani went to Yoga Rocks the Park over the summer, she immediately knew that she wanted to share the yoga experience with her Marian sisters.

Hingorani went to her fellow classmate, Maggie Reding, to get the club started. Reding responded with complete enthusiasm and said, “I was so in!”

The duo then went to Ms. Kathy Janata with the idea, and she was excited to help. Janata said, “Love it! I think it’s a great way to start the week.” After the Yoga Club was created, more than 200 students signed up at the Club Fair on Aug. 19.

President of Marian and certified yoga instructor, Ms. Mary Higgins instructed the first meeting on Aug. 31 to the more than 50 girls who attended. “I was sweating; it was a workout,” Hingorani said. For future meetings, Reding is working on getting temporary instructors, possibly her current yoga instructor, Lora McCarville, or other certified instructors from the Lotus House of Yoga.

“I’ve been practicing yoga since last December, and I fell in love. It was a stress reliever for me and an alternate workout choice. Since December, I have practiced yoga five times a week and am obsessed,” Reding said. She is planning to be ready to lead the group starting in February when she becomes a certified yoga instructor.

The club is accepting of everyone and there is not a commitment. “Yoga shouldn’t be an obligation but an opportunity,” Reding added. Once they get a regular instructor, the members of the club are hoping to meet once a week from 7:15 to 7:45 in one of the gyms. The girls attending are encouraged to bring their own yoga mats, however mats from gym class are available if needed.

“I was eventually hoping we could have our very own Marian Yoga Rocks the Park,” Hingorani said. The club is also hoping to provide a quick coffee and breakfast for future meetings.

“I envision a big yoga party in the gym one day, with great music, an instructor, and good vibes all over,” Reding said.

The Yoga Club is hoping to help students and faculty relieve stress and have fun while doing it. “I know yoga is a great way for people of all ages to deal with stress,” Janata said. The leaders are hoping the club will greatly affect Marian in a positive, beneficial way.