All female yoga class breaks sweat using 6-foot long staffs

Usually yoga consists of soothing music, relaxing stretches and meditation, but one Athens yoga instructor teaches all of those things using a 6-foot-long staff.

Burmese Bando Yoga and Aerobic Workout, a class held at ARTS/West, 132 W. State St., had its first class last Monday, and although it attracted only a few people, Cheryl Cesta, the instructor, wants to expand it to include college-aged females.

Cesta, a 57-year-old Athens resident, said her class is an interesting take on yoga, and the staff is an integral part of that difference.

The long stick represents the spinal cord

so it's used for aligning the spine and stretching she said. It helps you stretch your body beyond what you can do without the staff.

Cesta, who has been studying martial arts for more than 15 years and led a similar class about two years ago, said the staff has been used for other purposes throughout history as well.

The staff is used for healing it's used for fighting

it's used for walking

it's biblical

it's religious and it's utilitarian

among other things

she said.

Joyice Childs, 57, said she likes the class because of the diversity of the workout.

There is a little bit of everything in this class

and being a multi-tasker I like that I get aerobics

stretching and learn to punch and to kick for self defense too

she said. Athens is relatively safe