Members of the Happy Seal Yoga class practice on Cayton Bay in Scarborough as the sun rises to celebrate the Summer Solstice, Wednesday June 21, 2023. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP)

WHEELING — The Ohio County Public Library in Wheeling will offer winter Yoga workshops as part of its People’s University Series. The five classes will run from Jan. 25 through Feb. 22 on Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. in the library’s auditorium.

The library has retained expert instructors to lead the classes, each of which will feature a learning component and a yoga pratice component suitable for beginners through intermediate yoga enthusiasts. Classes will feature relaxing music as well as healthy teas and juices free to participants.

A limited number of mats will be available. Please bring your own if possible.

The library requests that interested patrons register by calling 304-232-0244 or sending an email to lunchwithbooks@yahoo.com. The registration is simply for a head count for supplies, and there is no obligation to attend.

The full schedule will be as follows:

Betsy Sweeny

– Jan. 25 at 7 p.m.: Class 1, People’s University-A History of Yoga

Learn about the history, origins and poses of yoga. From early history to the classes you take today, this session will provide students with a basic knowledge of yoga, and conclude with a yoga practice focusing on the foundational poses.

– Feb. 1 at 7 p.m.: People’s University-Class 2, Chakras & Yoga

Yoga philosophy refers to energy centers in the body as chakras. Each chakra has a unique location, and effect on the mind, body and soul. Learn about the seven main energy centers and how to work with them through a yoga practice. Class will conclude with a flow, focusing on moving energy through the body.

Instructor (Classes 1 & 2): Betsy Sweeny has been teaching yoga for more than 10 years. She completed her training in the ashtanga tradition, but her teaching style draws on many different yogic traditions. In recent years she has incorporated other forms of energy work into her classes. Betsy is Reiki I certified and hopes to help participants connect mind, body and spirit.

Nicole Snodgrass

– Feb. 8 at 7 p.m.: People’s University-Class 3, Yoga and Music

This workshop aims to provide participants with a holistic experience, blending the physical and mental benefits of yoga with the therapeutic effects of sound. By intertwining movement, breath and music, participants will embark on a journey toward inner harmony and self-discovery.

Instructor: Nicole Snodgrass is the founder and CEO of Restore Yoga + Wellness. She is a dedicated yoga instructor with twenty years of teaching experience, helping her students to find inner peace and a healthier lifestyle. She is committed to helping her students improve their physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Nicole regularly incorporates meditation and mindfulness techniques into her classes to help her students relax and focus on their breath. Her classes are always filled with enthusiasm, kindness, and a sense of humor. She believes that yoga can be a source of healing and joy for everyone. Nicole is an E-RYT through Yoga Alliance and a certified Holistic Health Coach.

Emily Daugherty

– Feb. 15 at 7 p.m.: People’s University-Class 4, Yoga & Health

In honor of American Heart Month, Registered Nurse and yoga teacher, Emily, will celebrate the importance of creating a heart healthy lifestyle through the practice of yoga. In this workshop, students will explore Heart Chakra balancing poses, breathing techniques to decrease stress, and practice a meditation aimed to down-regulate the busy nervous system and activate the power of the vagus nerve.

Instructor: Emily Daugherty is a Registered Nurse, yoga teacher, and life-long student dedicated to helping others reach their wellness goals through lifestyle, wellness, and community. She has two decades of yoga practice. Emily specializes in chair-based yoga classes, Vinyasa flow, and sound healing. Her holistic approach to yoga focuses on mind, body, and spirit. Visit her website: www.wildwonderful-yoga.org.

Lindsay Schooler

– Feb. 22, at 7 p.m.: People’s University-Class 5, Modern Yoga

Enjoy inclusive and adaptable gentle, slow flow yoga with our friend, a chair. Option to stand up or lie down for part of this accessible practice aimed at soothing the nervous system, inviting a sense of strength and peace, and ‘yoking’ together body, mind, and spirit.

Instructor: Teaching trauma-Informed, accessible and inclusive public and private yoga in Appalachia is dear to Lindsay Schooler’s heart. Having taught senior aquatics for several years, she completed Silver Sneakers Chair Yoga training in 2009, followed by 200HR accreditation in 2010 with West Virginia’s Om Seva School of Yoga, West Virginia’s only registered yoga school (RYS) at the time. She founded Happy Goat Yoga and found a passion for paddleboarding in 2011. She offers exquisite floating yoga experiences year-round. Since 2017, she has studied with Yoga Medicine. Lindsay offers monthly events at Wheeling’s Waterfront Hall, private specially curated experiences, and seasonal day retreats.

For additional information, visit www.ohiocountylibrary.org