www.eastside-online.org
Vol. 47 No. 9
Cherry Hill High School East: 1750 Kresson Road, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
May 2013
English teachers relieve stress through yoga By Allie Grossman (‘‘16), Kaylin Magosin (‘14), Jenna Wilson (‘15) Eastside Staf/ Eastside News/Features Editors
Yoga means union – union of the body and breath. Teachers around East express themselves through this mind-easing practice. Perhaps to ease the stress of the school days from their bodies, or simply to do as a favorite hobby, yoga has become part of many teachers’ daily routines. English teacher Ms. Alicia DeMarco has been practicing yoga steadily since the late ‘90s. She practices a variety of methods such as hatha, ashtanga (power), iyengar (alignment), bikram (the one in 110 degree heat, a set standard of 26 postures for 90 minutes). Mrs. Helena Dobromilski, also an English teacher at East, has been practicing yoga since 1975. “I started doing yoga in 1975 when I was diagnosed with sciatica. I had been reading yoga philosophy but not practicing the asanas until I had a physical problem,” Dobromilski said. Dobromilski is now a certified lyengar yoga teacher who practices yoga daily. Not only does yoga come in many different varieties, but yoga can also be categorized as meditative. DeMarco said, “Once you understand how a pose, or ‘asana’ works, it is easy to move in and out of it and really focus on the breath as a way to fully open the posture, which opens the body and the mind.”
She classifies the result as a feeling of lightness and happiness — an elevation of the mind and sense that all things are
Kayla Schorr (‘14)/ Eastside News/Features Editor
as they should be. Along with the many different forms of yoga, there are many different poses one can perform. Yoga creates flexible bodies, and also can also be an activity that is flexible in its performance. Yoga classes take place during all hours of the day and can ease a mind on overdrive. DeMarco said, “My practice is daily; I wish I was as disciplined with meditation. I try to sit every morning between 5 and 6 a.m. to do breath work and then simply
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pline, a way of life, a mental and spirtiual practice as much as, if not more than, the physical dimension,” Dobromilski said.
Kayla Schorr (‘14)/ Eastside News/Features Editor
DeMarco performs a tree pose.
for high school students’ busy lives. “High-schoolers are perfect candidates for yoga and its positive benefits,” DeMarco said, “the physical challenge and strengthening, the mental clarity and focus, the community created through practicing with others.” Dobromilski agrees that yoga has many benefits. “My favorite thing about yoga is that it is more than a physical practice. Yoga is a disci-
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A Yoga Club was recently started up at East led by DeMarco, after Kristen Hearn (‘14) came to her asking her to be the advisor. “I wanted to have a place to do [yoga] at school with other people, so we decided to start a yoga club,” Hearn said. “We are thinking about taking a trip to the beach this summer to do yoga there.” This beneficial hobby practiced at school may not only unite the body and the breath, but also
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unite teachers and students. “So far, it’s been working out great,” said DeMarco. “We did some guided mediations together, I showed them and talked to them about what prahna is, how to keep your spine straight when you’re seated...” DeMarco said that the main focus for the past few meetings has been proper breathing techniques to perform during yoga. So far, there are approximately ten people in the club. “I love the after-effect of yoga...I love how it made me calmer,” DeMarco said. “It’s toning the inside of your body just as much as the outside and your mind is calm.” The club is open to anyone who wants to practice yoga, no experience necessary. “If you are a beginner, choose a type of yoga and stay with it. Do not mix the various schools of yoga. Choose the one that speaks to you and stay with it. Otherwise, you run the risk of injury and will lose the quality of integration that yoga brings to a sense of well being. Do not let the ego interfere with your progression,” Dobromilski said. DeMarco summarizes yoga as a moving meditation. It has been part of her life for fourteen years and she is thrilled to have brought her pastime to the East community. Additional research by Kayla Schorr (‘14)/Eastside News/Features Editor
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Inside This Issue
Yoga has many benefits. Not only is it a great work-out, but it can also work as a stress reliever
DeMarco performs Natarajasana pose.
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