A workout alternative
Many students find it easy to bond with friends when they’re at the bar or having a few drinks at home.
But the employees at Flexible Health and Wellness want to encourage students they can improve relationships in other ways as well.
“We want people to bond over health, not necessarily beer,” said Chief Executive Officer and program developer Colleen Milligan. “Although beer is OK.”
Located in downtown Mount Pleasant, 121 S. University, the non-profit wellness studio has only been open for a few weeks. Upon entering, patrons are greeted with bright lights and the smell of aromatherapy, both designed to give an energy boost to customers.
Flexible Health and Wellness offers yoga, Tai Chi and Pilates sessions, as well as massages and Ayurvedic health education classes.
Milligan said yoga wasn’t readily available to Mount Pleasant residents and students.
“Downstate it’s common, but up here it hasn’t been available except on campus,” she said.
Yoga has several benefits, including relieving stress and anxiety, she said.
Milligan said the reason she felt the need to open the center for students was because of the amount of stress students experience.
“I want to see us manage it (stress) better,” Milligan said.
Jessica Wilson, Marquette junior and Flexible Health and Wellness Pilates instructor, said she thinks yoga is easy and less time consuming than other forms of working out.
“That’s what’s great with yoga, you don’t have to do 45-minute workouts,” Wilson said.
Milligan said she herself was never a big athlete and that’s why she chose yoga.
The wellness studio offers various programs for seniors and children in addition to its regular programs. However, Milligan said she does expect more student participation when the fall semester starts.
Milligan and Wilson said yoga is good for all body types.
“We never judge and never make your body do something it won’t do,” Milligan said.
Student prices for a drop-in session are $5. Packaged plans also are offered.
Sessions are offered daily at 7 a.m., noon and 4:30 and 5:30 p.m.
More information is available at Flexible Health and Wellness’ Web site at www.flexiblehealthandwellness.org.
