Marist Yoga: Maintaining Mindfulness in Physical Activity

Student Yoga Instructor Kelly Behr '27 and her students are all smiles after a class. Photo by Kelly Behr '27

In the whirlwind of college life, many students struggle to find an enjoyable outlet for their physical and mental health. Taking the time for self-care is often overshadowed and deprioritized by other demands and responsibilities. However, Marist University’s yoga classes promote healthy and helpful habits both on and off the mat. 

“I want it to be a space that you're coming to, to be as you are, and settle yourself,” said Kelly Behr ‘27, a student yoga instructor for Marist’s recreational program. 

Behr strives to create a welcoming and accessible environment for everyone seeking to practice yoga. She has been a certified instructor for almost seven months, beginning after she stumbled upon a studio while spending her freshman year in Florence. 

“I just fell in love with it,” Behr said. “This is kind of the safe haven where I feel like I make a community of people. Just seeing them around campus has been helpful for me. My whole goal is to create a space that feels welcoming for other people to walk in as they are and practice as they want to. That forms a sort of camaraderie and bond, even if it's unspoken.” 

Nikki Vincenty-Haas, a professor in the Physical Education Department at Marist and a yoga instructor for over a decade, teaches yoga courses as well as recreational classes that any student can take part in. She urges students to take advantage of all Marist Recreation and Intramurals has to offer.  

“It's really calming for the mind,” said Vincenty-Haas. “Overall, I think everybody is really just searching for peace and happiness in their life; you can use yoga as a tool to achieve that.” 

Especially for college students who have so much on their plates, yoga can teach so much more than posture and physicality. Despite the many physical benefits, Behr and Vincenty-Haas mentioned that yoga has not always been about the physical practice that many think of it today. The origins spoke more to mindfulness, awareness and the practice of looking inward. 

“For college students who are just beginning their adulthood, it's so important to remind yourselves that mindfulness, self-care and rest are just as important as all of those other things,” said Vincenty-Haas.  

“As a student who has taken multiple yoga classes at Marist, I have found the program to be very calming and a safe space for myself and my friends,” said Morgan Muller ‘27, who has become involved in yoga on campus. “I think that taking the time to have purposeful rest and relaxation is extremely important for our minds and our overall well-being.” 

Despite the strong community it has created at Marist, Vincenty-Haas explained that yoga is individualized. 

“Whether it be introspection, meditation, mindfulness, exercise or learning how to exude energy in a healthy way, every student can learn something that they can apply to their own lives outside the studio,” said Vincenty-Haas. “Yoga can be practiced every second of the day through disconnecting with your outer world and reconnecting with your inner world.”

“The hardest thing is showing up. Then, once you’re there, you’re taken care of,” she added.

Though students may be hesitant to join their first yoga class on campus, Behr explained that within the Marist community, you will be accepted by just practicing as you are. 

“I can attest that when I first started going to classes, I was a bit intimidated,” said Muller. “After staying consistent with classes, I got comfortable and felt like I could fully let loose without being judged. The instructors are incredibly welcoming and truly make the room a safe space.

“It can be really nerve-wracking when you don't know the levels that people are at," Behr added. “However, when you're working with people who are certified and have experience, they can offer those modifications. I know that in my classes, I make that a priority. With yoga specifically, there is no right or wrong.” 

Both Behr and Vincenty-Haas emphasized the ideas of self-care and taking time for yourself. 

One of Behr’s mantras is “You are where your feet are.” Whether through breathwork or practicing physical postures, there is mindfulness in observing that there is nowhere else that you are meant to be other than where you are right now. There is mindfulness in self-care, and yoga serves as a healthy outlet for mental and physical health, bringing students clarity and peace in their hectic college lives.

“With yoga, it’s a like-minded community,” said Vincenty-Haas. “That is major. You meet people that all want the same thing: self-care and mindfulness.”