Exercise can help in other sports like biking

Achieving balance, strength, awareness and harmony between the mind and body are just some of the known and maybe not-so-known benefits of yoga.

For many who practice the art of finding their center, it’s much more than just a daily activity – it can be an entire lifestyle and movement. Its popularity has been on a steady rise in recent years, though the practice has been around for thousands of decades, and its target audience is widening as trends emerge to fit every kind of lifestyle.

The Shreveport-Bossier City Bike Social has began hosting a “Yoga for Cyclists” class at 7 p.m. every Monday and Wednesday at Betty Virginia Park. The class is free and open to both cyclists and anyone else interested. Jodie Dupuy, both yoga instructor and cyclist enthusiast, said the benefits of the class are twofold.

“It’s a fun social event to help bring together cyclists in town,” she said. “The class targets areas of the body that cyclists might need to give a little extra attention to. It helps raise awareness for both yoga and cycling and is a fun, free way for the community to come together outside and get moving. Follow SBC Bike Social on Facebook for updates on classes.”

Dupuy was certified with the Yoga Alliance on the Big Island in Hawaii and sees the value in gaining as much experience as she can by teaching in different environments and for all levels of students. Attending classes from a young age, she understands the benefits from yoga and recognizes the role it can play in the community.

“I see the need for more yoga in Shreveport and so far, people have been very interested and receptive to learning,” Dupuy said. “Yoga differs from most other activities or sports because it focuses on a holistic approach to the body. [It] helps you tap into your true self physically, mentally and emotionally. Yoga integrates breathing techniques to help you slow down and rejuvenate the body, which is especially important in an over-worked society.”

“Important concepts in any yoga practice are kindness, confidence and acceptance [for the self and others] and it teaches students that they already have all that they will ever need, they just have to find it within themselves,” she said. “Personally, I think the greatest benefit of yoga is that it helps you find inner peace among chaos, whether on the mat or at work.”

As the interest and popularity in yoga continues to rise, so do the variety of classes that are offered – making the practice more accessible to those looking to find balance in their lives.

“Yoga can literally benefit anyone – any age, body type, fitness level,” Dupuy said. “Yoga isn’t just for a niche audience anymore – it’s offered at churches, in parks, at nursing homes and in schools. Recently, there’s been a surge of yoga classes targeted at small audiences. You can find stand-up paddleboard yoga, acroyoga (mixing gymnastics with yoga) and even yoga for football players and other athletes. On social media such as Instagram there are now many individuals that have huge followings that post daily pictures of yoga poses. These ‘social media’ yogis are helping spread yoga to people that might not have access to classes in their areas.”

“One more trend [is] workplace yoga,” Dupuy said. “Many businesses are now hiring yoga teachers to come in and teach weekly classes for employees. This is a great opportunity for employee bonding, plus it helps reduce stress and increase productivity in the workplace.”

For those interested in yoga, but don’t have any experience, Dupuy said most studios will offer a beginners class. An important component of trying out a new class, she said, is to have an open mind and positive attitude.

“Let the teacher know that it’s your first class,” she said. “Go into the class knowing that you’re entering a safe space where you are supported. Yoga teaches us to let go of self-judgement, so just let yourself experience the class as a newbie and let go of expectations. My No. 1 recommendation for beginners is to be able to laugh. You don’t have to get into a pose perfectly and look like an image in a magazine. Just have fun, do what feels good in your body; and if you lose balance, laugh and get back up.”

Dupuy teaches classes for employee health programs at local hospitals and at various studios in Shreveport, including Aspire Yoga Center located at 663 Jordan Street. To register for a class or more information, visit www.aspireyogacenter.com.