At first glance, I was nervous to see the turnout for my first yoga class, that the Cal State Bakersfield student recreation center sometimes hosts.

There was a good amount of people, a mix of all students. The lawn on campus was freshly cut, adorned with mats and blocks for all those who attended under the sunset.

I brought my own mat, placed it down and was then welcomed by the instructor, Sonia Kaur,
self-love and healing advocate, who was walking around and talking to the students. My
neighbors were also very kind, as was everyone I met.

We were instructed to take an intention card, with a short, loving message that will stay with us
throughout our class to remember where we keep our mind at and to surround ourselves with
love which was placed under the word “love” spelled out in rose petals at the front of class.
Beginning our class, we did a small meditation with some breathwork, trying to listen to our
breath and keep our mind clear. Imagining the ocean and shore as our lungs and stomach,
expanding, and receding with each breath.

We started with simple stretches, moving our toes, feet, ankles, then legs. We moved our knees
and hugged our bodies and rocked back and forth. Afterwards, we began our first moves of cow
and cat poses.

We started moving with downward dog and continued a repetitive series of motions. One
legged dog, cactus pose, high lunge into low lunge, warrior one then into warrior two, my
personal favorite, which had us in an upward forward lunge, steadying ourselves and our
breath. We would then transition into standing and begin our folding stretches.
All throughout our movements we were reminded of our breath and how we should feel good
about ourselves and about moving our bodies so lovingly.

After we had run through the series at least seven times, we ended our movements and began
our closing stretches of child’s pose and happy baby, closing our eyes and letting our body’s
calm down with the stretches.

Once we all finished our stretches, we gathered in a circle around the word “love” to begin our
group meditation. Our meditation consisted of focusing on our breath and to feel the warmth
and love within ourselves and feel it around one another. We were reminded by Sonia how
loved we are and that we are love in itself.

The class was very beginner friendly, totaling a handful of beginners and a few seasoned
professionals. It was something everyone could do. The movements were very simple, and the
environment was so welcoming.It was something I personally needed after a long spring semester and I recommend it to anyone looking for a way to calm your mind for an hour and not worry about anything else.

The CSUB SRC hosts this event and many others multiple times each semester! Download the
CSUB SRC App to follow along for more information on events and hours or check their website
www.csub.edu/reccenter/.