Jessica Sherwood is a yoga instructor at Samadhi Center, a studio between Pearl and Washington streets, but for the past three and a half years she has taught free yoga to employees at DU. She was approached by Mandy Sigmund, the Wellness Program Manager, in 2012, when the program was founded, and has taught free classes once a week ever since.

Every Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. she meets a group of faculty members on the east side of Mary Reed for a 45 minute Vinyasa (flow) yoga class. On Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m. DU staffers can partake in Iyengar yoga classes, a type of yoga that focuses on body alignment, with a different instructor.

Although the classes were initially implemented  for employees only, Sherwood says “the more the merrier” and that anyone is welcome to stop in, including students.

“[Free yoga] is a part of the DU Wellness Program for DU employees, and then people kind of drop in which I think is nice,” Sherwood said after her Wednesday class.

Sherwood is one of two teachers involved in the program that aims to “create a culture of wellness” at DU, as stated on the University’s wellness  website.

Yoga is only one facet of the Wellness Program, which extends its help to students and alumni through a number of events. The Crimson Classic, a 5k run and 1.5 mile walk through the DU campus that took place on Sept. 17, is just one example of the Wellness Center’s attempt to create a more active and healthy community.

Remaining outdoor classes run on the 23, 29 and 30, and will then move into the fitness center for future classes. To view the class schedule visit the DU Wellness page on the University’s website or visit the Wellness Program’s Facebook page for consistent postings on up-and-coming events.