Yogitha Malkireddy originally from India. She has lived in Silver City since July of 2020. Malkireddy holds the title of Campus Recreational Coordinator for Student Life at Western New Mexico University. Since early childhood, she has been part of sports, and it always drove her towards fitness and wellness. Malkireddy has a degree in Engineering; however, after working two years in that career, she decided that it was not for her. She received yoga classes to get her certification to know further what she wanted to do in life. She completed a yoga certification in three months and continued to get certifications under many fitness and wellness categories. She completed an internship with the company where she completed her certifications. As she went through a one-year process to complete her certifications, she succeeded in obtaining a formal education. Malkireddy completed her master’s degree in Exercise Science. Student Life offers yoga classes to students, and the community and Malkireddy hosts these classes.
The Mustang newspaper had the opportunity to interview her to ask her some questions on how yoga benefits people.
Q: Why should students do yoga?
R: All students should do yoga! Any kind of physical activity is right as well. Students need to get moving at least for 30 minutes a day. If you do not move, your mind will not be active, either your body. You have to see the daylight. Staying inside your dorms or apartments has much impact on you. You will not get that fresh air, and it has an impact on how your mind functions.
Q: Can you tell me a little bit about the classes you host here at Western New Mexico University?
R: This semester, we are hosting yoga classes at WNMU. We are doing yoga Mondays and Wednesdays from 7:00 to 8:00 PM. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, we have functional training. On Mondays, we offer hatha yoga, which is an intermediate to advanced level. Depending on who shows up to the class, we can always modify how hard or easy it is. We accommodate each student, depending on the flexibility and balance of the student. There are different styles of yoga!
Q: Do students need to bring anything to these classes?
R: The students do not need to bring anything to the classes, just themselves. We only ask for students to show up! We have everything ready for them. We have yoga mats, yoga balls, straps, and whatever equipment is needed.
Q: What are your future plans for Yoga classes being provided at WNMU?
R: Next semester, we are trying to bring more types of yoga. I have certifications in hatha yoga and restorative yoga. I am trying to see how people like yoga provided this semester and want something different. I did not get the chance to connect with many students to get feedback from them before starting my job here, but once I see more students, I will try to add more classes.
Q: How are you maintaining the classes safe with the pandemic happening?
R: If I have a class with more than five students, the class must be outdoors. We have to follow the New Mexico Health Guidelines. If the class is taking place outdoors, we usually do it at the Old James Stadium. If it is less than five, we do it indoors.
Q: Is there anything you would like to add to this article?
R: People always say that they do not go outside or are not using the fitness center. If you are unsure of what to do or plan your workout, I would suggest starting with the fitness group class. It gives you an idea of what groups are involved in and the exercises they are doing. For yoga, I suggest trying a couple of classes to see which class makes a change in your life. Research studies have proved that exercise does not always have to help everyone. All these years we have been hearing, “if you are feeling low or stressed out if you work out, you’ll feel better,” and that has not been the case with many athletes. They have researched thousands of athletes, showing an increase in stress levels when working out more. Know your options and see what works for you! Explore different things! Make friends!
If you have any questions, contact Yogitha Malkireddy (yogitha.malkireddy@wnmu.edu) or contact the Student Life Department.
