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Stretch Your Muscles During Summer Yoga Series

LIVE FOR LIFE, Duke's employee wellness program, to offer deal on yoga classes

David Roberts, a Duke fitness instructor teaching part of this summer's yoga series for Duke employees, leads a workshop on campus. Photo by Bryan Roth
David Roberts, a Duke fitness instructor teaching part of this summer's yoga series for Duke employees, leads a workshop on campus. Photo by Bryan Roth

The physically demanding bouts of gardening and household renovations each summer helped convince Divinity School professor Douglas Campbell and his wife, Rachel, that they needed to tone up and work on their flexibility. So about six years ago, they started taking Duke yoga and Pilates classes together.

Douglas, 52, says he now feels a decade younger and has continued to attend yoga classes every week at Brodie Recreation Center on East Campus and the Duke Faculty Club.

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"You find the class that works for you," he said. "Yoga can be very strenuous. It's deceptive, especially if you have to hold poses for a long time; it's very, very tough. Do what you can, listen to your body and don't overdo it."

For yoga enthusiasts and for those looking to try out the practice, LIVE FOR LIFE, Duke's employee wellness program, is offering two summer yoga series starting the week of June 16. Instructors will practice Vinyasa, a flowing style of yoga that improves strength, flexibility and body awareness.

Each 8-week series costs a total of $27 and class sizes are limited. They will be held in the John Hope Franklin Center, room 240, the week of June 16 to August 4.

David Roberts, a fitness instructor who's taught at Duke for six years, is leading one of the series. He said he starts his classes with a breathing meditation, then flows into gentle movements and ends with more challenging poses.

"My main goal is for it to be challenging, but I want everyone to be successful at it," Roberts said. "I'm going to offer progressions and options to help people. The idea is to get into a position that's a little more difficult and be more aware that your mind's not racing the whole time you're in there. It's not about being perfect. It's about improving."

Roberts' yoga series will be held on Tuesdays from noon to 12:45 p.m. The second series will run on Wednesdays from 5:45 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.  All skill levels are welcome.