In the middle of a heat wave stifling 黑料新闻, a few dedicated students laid out their mats and began to stretch. They were part of a recent free yoga class at Waterbury鈥檚 Bucks Hill Park, courtesy of ConnectiCare鈥檚 social equity program (YIOC).
鈥淚've seen some beautiful friendships blossom, because people have connected with others out in these parks,鈥� said Katlyn Hagley, a teacher with Waterbury Public Schools and YIOC instructor. 鈥淚 have some pretty great groups of regulars that show up to classes. It鈥檚 a beautiful way to connect with themselves, each other and nature.鈥�
YIOC brings free yoga classes to parks throughout 黑料新闻 from May to early October. The program鈥檚 goal is to promote yoga as a public health and community wellness tool, providing easily accessible classes to cities that have limited yoga exposure.
During the class, students followed Hagley鈥檚 instructions, going into various poses like sphinx and crescent moon. The class lasted an hour. Throughout Hagley stressed the importance of comfort 鈥� encouraging the modification of certain positions if they became painful.
And while students focus on poses and yoga鈥檚 physicality, participants in the Waterbury classes tend to also benefit psychologically, Hagley said.
鈥淪ome of the feedback that I've gotten is how it has helped people with their mental health 鈥� to help them relax and reduce anxiety,鈥� Hagley said. 鈥淭here's really an infinite number of benefits depending on the person and what they're coming to the mat for.鈥�
Waterbury, a community that is Latino and Black, sees nearly of households considered 鈥渃ost-burdened,鈥� meaning that at least 30% of their total income is spent solely on housing costs, according to from the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments鈥� 2021 Equity Profile.
A 2017 linked poverty with higher rates of depression and anxiety in children and adults. Black adults are more likely to have feelings of sadness and hopelessness, .
YIOC is the brainchild of TJ Clynch, the founder of social impact agency . More than a decade since the initial idea launched in Hartford, classes are now offered almost every day of the week in Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven, Waterbury, Willimantic and New London.
The classes are taught by local yoga instructors and located in several parks throughout each city.
鈥淓xercise and wellness and mental health in a public park can be intimidating 鈥� you are in a vulnerable space,鈥� Clynch said. 鈥淵ou're with a bunch of people who are at first strangers, but as you consistently go, you're building this sense of community.鈥�
But no matter where you live, Hagely said, yoga can be for you. Even if you don鈥檛 necessarily consider yourself 鈥測oung鈥� or 鈥渁thletic.鈥�
鈥淵ou can sit on your mat and observe the whole class, just hang out until you get comfortable. Unfortunately, there's this perception of yoga in our culture where it's all physical, and it's not,鈥� Hagley said. 鈥淭here's a huge mental, emotional and spiritual component to yoga as well. If you think you can't do it physically, you can. There's a pose for everyone.鈥�
