By Megan Milligan

Susan Maidhoff stands with her arms together above her head, index fingers pressed together. While sun shines through the windows in the aerobics room, and mediation music plays lightly in the background, Maidhoff streches into mountain pose.

“This is a beautiful room to do yoga in,” Maidhoff said. “The natural light makes all the difference.”

A free yoga class is held every Tuesday and Thursday in the Aerobics room on the Marple campus. The hour long sessions, held on Tuesdays from 12:30-1:30 p.m. and on Thursdays from 3-4 p.m., are led by Maidhoff, who has been teaching yoga for 15 years.

Today she is teaching six people in a class for all levels of experience. Mikaila Cordeau, a communications major, said she came because, “I’ve always done yoga, and this one is free and convenient because it’s right here at school.”

Cordeau said she’s looking forward to a trip to Florida soon, to practice yoga on the beach.

Yoga has been around for 5,000 years, practiced originally by Hindus. It’s meant to align the mind and body, through controlled breathing techniques and posture.

There are three poses that are designed to build strength, stability and work on alignment according to Maidhoff. These poses include mountain pose, downward dog, and extended warrior, one two and three.

First, Maidhoff began the class by doing organ massaging. Lying on the mat, the students took their knee and held it between their hands against the chest and massaged with their knees.

York City, yoga helps with ailments such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and especially improves mental health. People who regularly do yoga also report less fatigue, and more mental awareness.

Since 2012, Medicare has covered yoga on

their cardiac rehabilitation program. Maidhoff, who also teaches at places such as LA Fitness, Bryn Mawr College, and owns her own private business, has been doing yoga

since the 1980s. “The one thing people often state is

that they’re lacking in certain things such as concentration, flexibility, strength, and balance.” Maidhoff said. “This is why they should be doing yoga and no matter where they are mentally or physically they will progress from where they started, [because] yoga is universal!”