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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Advertisement Email Story to a Friend May 6, 2006 Six-year-olds Hunter Andrews, left, of Central Point, and Patrick Maloney of Medford try to balance during the Family Yoga class at the Medford YMCA. The Y added the class in response to the growing popularity of the ancient practice. (Mail Tribune / Denise Baratta) Reaching into YOGA A class at the Medford YMCA brings generations into a new sense of balance and unity through this time-honored technique of relaxation and meditation By BUFFY POLLOCK for the Mail Tribune The poses are familiar: downward-facing dog, the cobra, the child's posture. But the participants in this yoga class aren't the usual crowd. They're a mix of toddlers, grandparents, parents and teens. The class is Family Yoga, a new offering at the Medford YMCA, and it is open to anyone whose attention span can handle 45 minutes of breathing techniques, poses, relaxation and meditation. Claudia and Leo Love of Medford brought their four children — 7, 9, 11 and 13 — to the class on a recent Saturday morning. "It's exercise for the kids," says Claudia Love. "It's good for strength, flexibility, good for relaxing. We just thought it would be a nice family exercise." Advertisement Leo Love, one of two men in the class, gave the occasional perplexed look at some of the more complicated poses, but he kept up with ease. "It's easy," declared his daughter, 7-year-old Julianna. "Yeah, well if I was 7!" retorted the father with a smile. Joking aside, Love said he was surprised at how relaxed he felt after the class. "For me, it wasn't as difficult as I thought it might be," he said. "I'm not sore — at least not yet. We'll find out later." He added: "I was surprised at how relaxing all the exercises are. It gives you a chance to get really relaxed." An all-ages yoga class made sense given the increasing popularity among adults of the ancient practice, said instructor Gwen Moxley. Unlike in some yoga classes aimed at the very young, Moxley teaches standard adult poses in the new class. And it's been a hit. Saturday morning classes rally some half-dozen to 20 students. Similar Tuesday and Thursday morning classes are less populated but picking up speed as well. "Turnout varies, but it's been pretty popular, I think," said Moxley. "I think it's great they finally offer something that all ages can do together. Just this morning I was thinking, 'Man I wish I'd had something like this with my kids.' "In this day and age, when everybody's off doing their own thing and rushing around, this is something they can do together and help them unwind and relax." Buffy Pollock is a freelance writer living in Medford. E-mail her at [email protected]. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Discount Hotel Reservations online casinos news Ashley Furniture HomeStore Send Flowers Southern Oregon Loans California Casinos GMAT Prep Windermere Van Vleet Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Online Pharmacy Advertisement s Advertisement