“Let our breath be our guide,” said Kendra Coakley Pense, yoga instructor, as she guided her class through opening exercises. The introduction was part of a morning class held on Tuesday at 9 a.m. at the Mansfield Park on Brinkerhoff.
The class was part of the Fun in the Parks program, a collaborative effort between the Friends of the Mansfield Parks, Downtown Mansfield Inc and several local instructors and business owners. For the past several weeks residents have enjoyed classes ranging from fitness, pottery, gardening,drama to magic and yoga.
Pense is a local licensed yoga instructor who has been participating in the program for the past four years. She said her passion for yoga started in the 1980s when she began taking classes, leading her to begin studying and teaching and ultimately obtaining her RYT certification. While teaching classes at the local YMCA Pense had the opportunity to share her knowledge and training with the community through the FOMP by local art enthusiast and friend Dalton Derr.
“It’s all about mindfulness, breathing with movement, that is the essence of yoga,” stated Pense.
Pense went on to share her belief that most everyone can benefit from practicing yoga on some level or another. “I have taught classes with MMRD, pregnant women, seniors and children, they all enjoy it and I could see the difference it made to them. Yoga teaches you to be more present in your mind and body,” she said.
Some of the benefits Pense said that can be achieved through practicing any level of yoga is a lowered heart rate, lower blood pressure and significant stress relief.
Balance and focus are crucial points of yoga enabling one to obtain a quiet mind added Pense. “Always focusing back to the breath.”
Yoga classes continue for the next two weeks when the Fun in the Parks program comes to an end with a Wrap Up Picnic scheduled for August 9 from 6-8 p.m. at the pavilion. Demonstrations of the summer’s activities, as well as food and entertainment, is planned. Bringing the community together through fitness, food and fun will culminate in another successful year of Fun in the Parks.
For more information about the picnic, call Downtown Mansfield @ 419-522-0099.
Balance and Focus are key
Downward dog pose
