Yoga Program Helps Students De-stress and Stay Fit

By NATALIE HERNANDEZ/Contributor

Herrington Patriot Center offers a variety of fitness classes. One class that is steadily gaining popularity among students is yoga. Led by an instructor who discovered the transformative power of yoga, the class is more than just a physical workout.

“I’ve been practicing yoga since 2017, and it’s had such a profound impact on my life,” said instructor Brooke Rudolph, who began teaching at UT Tyler this year. “Yoga became a way for me to not only have an outlet but to center myself. I wanted to share that joy with others.”

Students say yoga provides mental clarity, emotional well-being and supports long-term mobility. For some, the benefits are personal and often related to reducing stress.

Summer Star, a nursing student, joined the yoga class as part of an assignment for her holistic health course.

“I wanted to explore internal healing beyond traditional medicine,” she said. “Yoga gives me a different perspective on health and wellness that complements what I learn in nursing.”

Rudolph said yoga offers both immediate stress relief and long-term benefits such as improved mobility and flexibility.

“When you’re 65 or 70, you’ll appreciate that flexibility,” Rudolph said. “But right now, yoga helps students focus, teaching them how to breathe through stressful moments. It’s an invaluable tool, especially during exam weeks or after a long day of classes.”

Some say yoga also provides a sense of community where students can focus on their own practice while being part of a supportive environment.

The yoga program at HPC is open to all students, offering a space for both beginners and experienced practitioners.