Casey Shortt

Brandon Crane has been passionate about yoga since his freshman year.

Now an instructor, the Sterling Heights senior is able to teach others about this ancient Indian practice.

On Thursday in the Bovee University Center Gold and Maroon Room, Crane led 13 participants in a free yoga session. This event was sponsored by VOX Voices for Planned Parenthood, an organization at CMU.

VOX president and Macomb Township senior Amber Lamky said this event was offered to give students more insight on what the group is about.

“We’re the only pro-choice group on campus,” Lamky said. “We focus on safe sex education and give safer sex demonstrations such as going to classes and speaking.”

During the yoga session, students moved into more than 10 poses while Crane guided them into perfecting their balance and breathing technique.

“It is important to focus on our breathing and relax. Also focus on your tension and suck that out like a straw,” Crane said. “Let it gently flow away. Do this as many times as necessary until complete relaxation is found.”

Later on, Crane turned the lights out and the participants lied on their backs and pretended to be in a field with tall grass and trees surrounding them. Like the color-changing leaves, Crane told them, “We ourselves are always changing. We are flexible, not rigid. We are a stream.”

Bruce Crossing senior Eric Sprott has been doing yoga for about a year and a half but had his doubts before.

“Originally I assumed this was for women, but that went away really quickly. It is really fun,” Sprott said. “It is a great way to relax before bed and to stretch before you exercise or do other sports. It never hurts to try something new – the only way to grow as a person is to try new things.”

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E-mail the author: Sherri Keaton