Student Recreation Sports Center hosts Harry Potter yoga class

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Yoga is known to have the power to relax and soothe the soul, but the magic of yoga reached new heights Sunday.

In celebration of Halloween, the Indiana University Student Recreational Sports Center put a little twist on a traditional yoga class they offer, and created a “Harry Potter” inspired session.

The hourlong class was led by yoga instructor, Anju Chandy. Chandy is a graduate of IU and has been practicing yoga for over 10 years. She said she was inspired to teach the class after attending a “Deathly Hallows” themed class last year.

“I had so much fun last year, I knew I wanted to teach this class,” Chandy said. “I wanted to get back to the basics of Harry Potter and do a house theme, which was my inspiration for this year.”

The class took place in a dimly lit group exercise studio in the SRSC. The room was filled with a pungent sweaty smell, but it did not phase those who gathered to experience the magic of Harry Potter yoga. The space echoed with the soundtrack sung by the Frog Choir, the student group from the movie. When each person entered, they chose a wand that would be used for the class.

Participants also had the option to pick the Hogwarts house they wanted to represent Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw or Slytherin. After choosing a house, each person was given a red, yellow, blue or green colored ribbon to indicate what house they picked.

The yoga class featured Harry Potter-inspired yoga positions including Downward Fluffy, Whomping Willows and Slytherin Cobras. During the cool down session, Chandy read a passage from the “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone” book to make the session seem even more realistic.

The wands each person was given were used as a focal point to help with balance and to cast spells including “Wingardium Leviosa,” the spell that makes objects levitate. The chanting of this spell was used when participants were practicing the raven position, or commonly referred to as crow pose in traditional yoga. This pose gives the illusion that a person is nearly floating, which presented the perfect opportunity to use the levitation spell.

Among the participants was Haley Holycross, an IU student who has a passion for yoga and science fiction. She said although she was familiar with the “Harry Potter” movies, she had never read the books and was not sure what to expect.

“I have gone to traditional yoga classes before but never a themed one, and this exceeded my expectations,” Holycross said. “With a themed class there are more people coming together for the social component which made it fun.”

IU employee, Kell Mirowski said she wishes the recreation center would host more themed classes because it helps motivate her when working out.

“Because there was a theme it helped me relax and helped me forget I was in a yoga studio,” Mirowski said.

At the end of the class, everyone was encouraged to keep their wands and ribbons as souvenirs to remember the magical experience.