Yoga for the Office

Integral Hatha yoga is a style of yoga that combines the various branches of yoga into a comprehensive practice, to develop every aspect of the individual.  During the practice the students are taken through a series of asanas (poses), including standing, balancing, backbends, forward bends, inversions and twists.  The classes end with a deep relaxation, called shavasana, which is by far the student’s favorite.

In 2017, the hatha classes became a part of the Zest Wellness program at Colonial, making yoga available to a large group of employees.  There are currently four classes offered weekly—two beginner series, designed for those who have had little to no yoga experience, and two intermediate classes, for those who have been practicing longer.

Taught by Jacqueline Lightbourne, the classes are designed to help employees manage and reduce stress, improve mental awareness, increase productivity, improve strength and flexibility, and to encourage an overall healthy lifestyle at home and at work.  Many people feel they can’t do yoga because they’re not flexible enough, or they can’t get into a position.  In Jacqueline's classes, she tries to stress that the point of yoga is to connect with your body and embrace where you are.

Jacqueline has been teaching yoga classes at Colonial for three years.  She received her Yoga Teacher’s Certification in Integral Hatha yoga in 2014 from the Satchidananda Institute in Yogaville, Virginia.

Her positive, welcoming environment has fostered strong relationships with her students, and keeps them coming back for more: "I love coming to yoga with Jacqueline, we always have a good laugh in a relaxed, welcoming environment - I would find it hard to have a yoga class without Jacqueline as the teacher."