Photo by Katherine Rountree
“We have a yoga studio?”
That’s the response I most often hear when I mention SCAD and yoga in the same breath. Just making a personal guestimation here, I’d say about a fourth of SCAD students know about the free yoga classes offered at Corbin Hall — and that’s stretching it.
But after that first question of “We have a yoga studio?” several others come to mind. The most popular ones are listed below along with their answers. Here’s your own personal Yoga FAQ to help get you in the studio.
Are the classes really free?
Yes. As long as you are a current SCAD student with a valid ID card, you can enroll in any class you want. Classes are also open to SCAD faculty and staff members.
Do I need to bring a mat?
No. There are plenty of mats in the studio that you may use free of charge. They are wiped down and cleaned with an antiseptic spray after every use.
What do I wear?
For the easier classes — Restorative, Vinyasa, All-Levels Yoga — a simple t-shirt and shorts will be fine. For the harder classes — Intro to Power Yoga and Power Hour Yoga — wear lightweight, dark-colored clothing that will allow you to move but will also hide your sweat. Gripped socks are recommended for some, as is a small personal towel for perspiration.
How do I sign up for a class?
First make an account on the SCAD Studio webpage, which you can find either by clicking here or by Googling “SCAD Studio.” After signing up for an account, a verification email will be sent to your mySCAD email address. Once your account is verified, log on, navigate to the calendar page and sign up for whichever class you want. Registration opens up three hours before the actual class and can be competitive as space is limited.
I’ve never done yoga before. How hard is it?
SCAD Studio offers classes for all levels. There’s even a class called All-Levels Yoga, which is beginner-friendly. Another beginner class is Restorative Yoga, though this one is very relaxed and may not be much of a workout. Vinyasa Yoga is also easy to start off with. Intro to Power Yoga is somewhat advanced. You’ll want to have attended some Vinyasa classes before joining this one. Power Hour Yoga is pretty advanced and requires the Intro course as a preliminary.
I don’t know any poses or any of the terms. Can I still go?
The only way to learn yoga is to do it. All of SCAD Studio’s instructors are professional yoga teachers who practice and teach on a regular basis. They will demonstrate and walk you through any pose you’re unfamiliar with. Talking with them before class is a good way to calm any first-time jitters.
Why should I try out yoga?
Yoga as we know it today evolved thousands of years ago when Indian monks and gurus began using it to stretch out their bodies before long periods of meditation. It was a physical, mental and spiritual exercise that prepared them for the much more arduous hours and hours of still, silent sitting.
You don’t have to meditate afterward, but yoga hasn’t changed all that much over the years. It’s still considered an intense exercise of the mind, body and spirit. Yoga leaves you relaxed and fit, but best of all it leaves you focused. Your mind becomes one-pointed, meaning your thoughts are stilled, your concentration heightened, and your ability to think and be creative is strengthened.
Yoga also comes in so many different forms that anybody can try it out at least once. Now with your questions answered, you have no more excuses to sit at home in bed instead of in the studio on a mat.
