Yoga Goodness offers half-price yoga classes to first responders and civil servants

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LYNCHBURG (WSLS 10) - Yoga Goodness Studio will initiate a two-month series of weekly, half-priced yoga classes for emergency response personnel for police, firefighter and EMS workers.

The studio was founded by world-renowned yoga and meditation teacher Cyndi Lee.

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Emergency personnel and law enforcement officers experience significant rates of stress-based health problems as well as higher than average rates of sleep disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder. Yoga practice has been implemented in fire and police departments around the country to offer avenues for relieving stress and building resiliency.

The class instructor, Marissa Freeman, was inspired to offer this series of discounted classes as a gesture of gratitude to the first responder community.

"Police, Fire and other first responders work tirelessly to protect our community. We are beyond grateful for their hard work and thought offering this class would be a good way to show our gratitude. We will focus on relaxation in our natural ability to regulate breathing. Nothing strenuous, no crazy poses, just offering a time to relax and unwind for these people who have tremendously stressful jobs," said Freeman.

The weekly class offered by Yoga Goodness will include both a physical practice and a mindfulness component. The physical practice is designed to enhance flexibility, increase range of motion, teach balance and build strength. In addition, students will be introduced to the principles of mindfulness through a short guided meditation that focuses on breathing, observing thoughts and sensations in the body and letting go.

Yoga Goodness will provide all the necessary equipment for the class. First responders will be required to show their badge or identification.

Each Sunday, during the months of August and September, classes will be from 11 a.m. until noon. The cost of each class is $6.

Yoga Goodness Studio opened in April 2015 and has since served over 1,000 students. The studio offers alignment-based vinyasa yoga, grounded in the meditation practices of mindfulness and compassion. Classes are available seven days a week for all experience levels.