Tina Stroh mentions something she calls “the disease of speed.”
That’s what yoga is supposed to vaccinate against, she said.
“Yoga is a tool I can use to remind myself of what’s really important,” said the owner of Just Plain Yoga in Camp Hill.
The benefits are both physical and mental, she said.
Yoga stretches muscles, increases flexibility, assists balance, opens pathways in the nervous system and gives energy. And it makes us feel better.
“We rarely allow our feelings, physical and emotional, to percolate,” she said. “As you settle in, it gives you time to digest, and not just your supper.”
Stroh has taught yoga for more than 20 years and has practiced since the age of 16, when someone in her high school sociology class suggested she try it.
She continued to practice through her college years, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in international studies and theater. She never considered teaching, but said she was “shamed” into it when her alumni newsletter inaccurately described her as a yoga teacher.
I’ve always been intrigued by yoga but intimidated, as well. Yoga never seemed attainable for me because I’m about as flexible as an oak tree. Nonetheless, after accomplishing all the necessary tasks on one particular day, I headed to my very first class.
The smell of coffee and vanilla welcomed me, wafting in from the One Good Woman shop next door. After I entered, the receptionist greeted me with a hushed hello. I found myself whispering back. The studio has a noticeable air of quiet and calm. Since I’m normally chatty, loud and bit hyper, I found this to be a stretch. One I needed.
The class was “Basic Hatha.” Hatha, the most commonly practiced type of yoga in the United States, involves postures (asana), breathing (pranayama) and meditation. Stroh described it as moving from concentrating on the physical body, finding where the body is strong or tight, to the more subtle and emotional, calming the mind.
Instructor Carrie Fleming began with a brief meditation, then we commenced to breathing exercises. With instrumental music playing in the dimly lit room, Fleming instructed us, in her tranquil, NPR-style radio voice, to begin stretching our wrists and arms.
I was surprised at how quickly I released my own thoughts (“I hope I’m not late for the concert”; “I need to go grocery shopping”) and focused only on breathing, moving and stretching.
It was clear to me then, why Jane Zicarelli-Knaub found so much benefit from the practice, while caring for her father who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease.
“Both my horses and yoga were therapy to get me through,” said Zicarelli-Knaub, who has practiced yoga for 17 years and takes classes at the studio. “Just Plain Yoga is unique in that Tina has brought together different styles that can reach any person, beginner or excelled.”
Poses began with “the warrior,” which is rather like standing on an imaginary surf board, arms out for balance. Not a challenging pose, but one that must be done with purpose and mindfulness.
I then attempted “the pigeon” pose, which involved standing on one leg with the opposite foot resting as high up on the leg as possible. This challenged my balance even with my foot close to the floor, but Fleming said that we could use the wall for stability if necessary. I took her up on that.
Not all classes at Just Plain Yoga are as subdued as the one I attended. Ben Dunlap, partner at Nauman Smith, a Harrisburg law firm, prefers the more physical, athletic ashtanga vinyasa.
“Yoga has helped me stay calmer, more even-keeled and more resilient,” he said.
Through breathing techniques, he has solved a problem many people face—waking up in the middle of the night with a whirlwind of thoughts. Yoga allowed him to fall back asleep quickly. It has changed him physically, as well, greatly increasing his flexibility. Like Zicarelli-Knaub, he began the practice to help cope with a life event— his sister’s cancer diagnosis.
Yet another opportunity is the “Yoga for Any Body Class.”
“This class was developed for people who have a larger body or injuries,” Stroh said.
Many different types of classes are available because Stroh said she opened Just Plain Yoga to serve the community at large and not just a niche market.
Ending the class, we gently stretched and relaxed, at one point belly down on the mat. Sleep seemed possible. As I exited the building and proceeded to the concert, I realized that the same stresses existed after the class as before. But I held those stresses differently, with less anxiety and sense of rush. Tasks felt more doable. Perhaps yoga is just plain good for you.
Just Plain Yoga is located at 1845 Market St., Camp Hill. For more information, call 717-975-9642 or visit www.justplainyoga.com or the Facebook page.
Author: Susan Ryder
