PennMed Yoga

I can barely touch my toes.  When I stop practicing yoga, I quickly become unable to touch my toes.  And that is the most superficial benefit yoga has shown me.

One year ago, the lovely Lisa C (an MS2 I’ve come to admire considerably and feel fortunate to call my friend) decided that yoga should be available to PennMed students and staff free of charge.  But, in a city like Philly with studio classes easily going for 20 bucks a pop, where could a debt-laden student find such a class?  Or a generous soul willing to teach?

Enter Ms. Julia Horn:

A native of the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina, Julia studied dance at North Carolina School of the Arts and then Tisch School of the Arts in New York City.  She performed worldwide as a principal member of the Yoga-Dance troupe Tripsichore Yoga Theater and, since then, has become a teacher and choreographer of great merit.  Julia has created original yogic performances for a world tour of Hong Kong, Singapore, Bali, Thailand, Paris, and Iceland.  Her diverse performance background and small mountain-town upbringing infuse her teaching with a rich, artistic, and nature-driven vision that inspires students of all levels.  Julia currently teaches to the greater Philadelphia community at Studio 34, YogaChild, and Shani Yoga Shala, and now to cancer patients at the Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology.  Students who recently completed Mod 1 might also appreciate how the language of gross anatomy is seamlessly incorporated into her classes, as Julia has attended a number of anatomy trainings and has held a life-long interest in medicine and health.

Basically, Julia is the shit.  And we get to have her all to ourselves every Monday at 5pm in the student lounge.

***Our first yoga class of 2011 will be MONDAY, JANUARY 31st, at 5:00pm***

~ One hour ~ All levels class ~ Faculty, staff, students are invited ~

~ Donations suggested ($5-$10) ~

~ Medical Student Lounge ~ 2nd floor Stemmler Hall ~

I very much hope to see many of you on the 31st!  If you’ve never tried yoga before or you’re an experienced veteran, this is a fantastic space to start or continue your practice.  Remember, I’m the girl who can’t normally even graze her toes, so inexperience and inflexibility really are not valid excuses.  I think you’re going to love it here!