We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
The Northern Alumni Foundation invites Hi-Line residents to join them this summer for a fun and free outdoor event on the MSU-Northern (MSUN) campus. Every Wednesday from July 15 through August 12, a local yoga teacher will lead a free yoga class.
An idea inspired by MSUN Foundation CEO Shantel Cronk, the more social-distancing-friendly outdoor yoga classes will serve as an alternative to the movie nights of previous summers held in the Pershing Hall Courtyard. Trading a sedentary activity for one that includes exercise is also in line with guidelines outlined by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) and the Office of Disease Prevention & Health Promotion (ODPHP).
Activities that take place outdoors not only make social distancing more possible, but events like Outdoor Summer Yoga remove the isolation or loneliness that otherwise might set in under the HHS guidelines. Yoga also adds an important physical activity component.
This physical activity can help “to boost one’s mood, reduce stress, improve sleep, and sharpen focus — benefits that can be especially important during stressful times,” the ODPHP website claims.
Likewise, medical professionals credit nature with having calming effects on the mind since nature’s beauty and serenity contribute to a sense of peace. These mental health benefits can assist in alleviating any fear and anxiety spiked by the pandemic.
Each of the five Outdoor Summer Yoga sessions will be 30-45 minutes long, and all participants are being asked to bring their own yoga mat, water bottles, and other yoga props they may need—such as blocks or blankets.
“No experience is necessary to participate,” Cronk insisted. “And everyone is welcome; Outdoor Summer Yoga is not exclusive to Northern students and alumni. I would love it if we could get some people from Blaine County to join us!”
When asked whether the current health situation with the coronavirus had any influence on the decision to exchange movies for yoga, Cronk replied: “Definitely the decision was influenced by COVID, but I had already been thinking about the beauty of our campus and how it needs to be shared. This wasn’t possible with the summer movie nights because people were waiting until after dark to visit campus, a time when no one could really experience what the campus has to offer.
“During dog-walking sessions on campus, I would encounter one of our many green spaces, and say to myself: ‘That would be a good place for yoga.’ So, I was already entertaining the idea. But with the escalation of the virus, we needed to seriously consider activities that could be performed without touching, and yoga is both a reviving and nurturing activity that also lends itself to building community.”
Cronk, who is the daughter of Paulette and Richard Cronk of Chinook, is herself a yogini—a female who practices yoga. After experiencing health issues a few years ago, she turned to yoga to work through them and to alleviate stress while building stamina.
“The first time I tried yoga, I giggled through the whole thing with the poses, breathing, and all, but I soon realized the benefits of pain relief and emotional rescue from stress to a more positive mood and a sense of well-being. It’s certainly one tool to explore for anyone who has experienced trauma, and with this whole coronavirus situation, we’re all emerging with PTSD-like symptoms that yoga can address.”
Dozens of studies indicating that yoga contributes to positive physical and mental health are under way at medical institutions around the country. These studies not only suggest that yoga can fortify the body's immune system but confirm that yoga assists in the treatment of a number of the most common chronic ailments—like heart disease and type 2 diabetes—that jeopardize vitality and shorten human life.
Although research already verifies that yoga decreases anxiety and depression, controls blood pressure, and provides joint support, researchers are in the early stages of examining whether yoga practices might also help delay age-related cognitive decline.
Calling the campus a “beautiful setting,” Lee Louder, the out-reach coordinator for the MSUN Alumni Foundation, added that the Foundation had heard from various sources that many area residents have never been on MSUN’s campus.
“We wanted to encourage more people to come see the development that has taken place on campus. In order for participants to get a full picture of campus and its green spaces, each session of Outdoor Summer Yoga will convene at a different location so that people can admire the beauty while they do something fun to unwind,” Louder said.
Cronk was quick to express her appreciation for the volunteers who are making this program happen. “We had some really generous individuals agree to volunteer their time to conduct the yoga sessions,” Cronk reported.
The list that follows shares the dates, times, and teachers for each yoga class:
• July 15 at 5:30 p.m. led by Corty Filler
• July 22 at 10 a.m. led by Bonnie Williamson
• July 29 at 5:30 p.m. led by Anne Neal-Dugdale
• August 5 at 5:30 p.m. led by Amber Gilge
• August 12 at 5:30 p.m. led by Andrea Laumeyer
Locations for each session will be announced in advance, so interested individuals are encouraged to follow the Northern Alumni Foundation’s Facebook page for updates. Information can also be obtained by emailing alumni@msun.edu or calling 406-265-3711 with any questions.
