Sunset Yoga class demonstrating the downward dog position.

Yogis and amateurs gathered in harmony at Smythe Park, Thursday, April 3, to reap the health benefits from the spiritual practice of yoga. The Sunset Yoga class held last week at Daniel Island’s Smythe Park marked the first session to take place at this location. This class is one of seven weekly sessions led by Yoga Alliance-registered yoga teacher Diane Zalka.

Zalka, whom has been practicing yoga since 1993, has spent the last three years on Daniel Island instructing islanders on the proper way to "declutter the mind through the concentration of yoga."

"Yoga allows individuals to leave their ego and judgment at the door. Once people let go and allow themselves to get into the zone, they will discover that yoga is an all-around basis for viewing your life differently and being mindful of your actions," Zalka said.

Yoga has been proven to help alleviate, if not cure, a number of different ailments certain individuals may face.

Zalka first began her involvement in the mid-eastern practice to help ease the suffering brought about by her muscular scoliosis, as well as providing a beneficial way to healthily cope during the grieving process.

One of Zalka’s "Gentle Yoga Flow for Women" students, Amy Jimenez, started taking yoga classes after being diagnosed with the autoimmune disease Muscular Dystrophy. "I have found that while taking yoga I am able to better cope with my balance issues. When I don’t do it often enough I can definitely feel it," Jimenez said.

Another one of Zalka’s students, Vicki Maguire, enjoys partaking in yoga as a relaxation technique. Maguire explained that she likes Diane’s yoga methodology because "she works at the deep level of yoga exercising, she’s not all power. I like her yoga technique because it is targeted towards the deep tissue areas."

Generally, any type of yoga exercise is a healthy workout for the mind, body, and soul. However, specific yoga positions tend to help individuals center their concentration on improving targeted anatomical or therapeutic focuses.

Due to genetics alone, men have more upper-body strength than women and therefore focus more of their attention on performing forearm balances. However, Zalka relays that "women tend to have more open hips, and can pose in certain positions that require more flexibility of the hips."

Diane Zalka leaading her Sunset Yoga class.

While classes such as prenatal and postnatal yoga are centered towards women, both genders are encouraged to attend any class they deem interesting. The classes provided by Daniel Island Yoga are as follows: Gentle Yoga Flow, Hatha Vinyasa Yoga, Prenatal Yoga, Postnatal Yoga, Core Strength Yoga, FiTour Pilates, Mommy & Me Kids, Tweens/Teens, and On-Site Corporate Yoga.

Private and public sessions are available at a number of various locations. The newest venue at Smythe Park is available every Thursday at 6-7pm, from April until June, with a drop-in fee of $10 for adults, and $5 for teenagers.

For more information on the benefits of yoga, or if interested in enrolling in one of the sessions provided by Daniel Island Yoga please contact Diane Zalka at her local number, 906-8184, or by e-mail at danielislandyoga@yahoo.com. For additional information about the company in general those interested may log onto the company’s Web site at www.danielislandyoga.com.

Diane Zalka and class practicing yoga during Sunset Yoga at Daniel Island's Smythe Park.