EAST BRUNSWICK – To teach patrons a better way to take air in and out of their lungs, the East Brunswick Department on Aging/Senior Center is offering free Pranayam yoga classes.
“Yoga has eight different parts and this is one of them. The difference is that yoga is physical postures and Pranayam [yoga] is breathing exercises. It deals with the body, mind and soul,” volunteer instructor Pradip Ray said. “It’s the physical, mental and spiritual, all three of these together mean yoga.”
Ray has been teaching yoga for 11 years, including six years at the senior center. The class is held at 10:30 a.m. every Wednesday at the East Brunswick Senior Center, 3 Civic Center Drive.
Ray said by attending his class, participants will gain benefits for their mind and health.
“The very first day they will feel different and we do … different [techniques]. Each [technique] has a significant different benefit, but mainly it deals with stress. Stress is the enemy of our body. If we can overcome even personal stress, it will be beneficial,” said Ray, who is a retired engineer.
He said he volunteered because he had a desire to help fellow members of the senior center.
“It helps a lot because I ask my students from time to time, ‘How are you feeling?’ and I get very positive answers. … After seven days they feel much better [and] after one month if they practice regularly they will be a different person, a totally different person,” Ray said. “There are a lot of students who come and take the class for a few days and then leave after learning (what to do), but there are some permanent students who come here to practice.”
For more information, call 732-390-6896.
Contact Vashti Harris at vharris@newspapermediagroup.com.
