Francestown residents can join in on virtual yoga classes on Tuesdays through the end of January, led by the town’s new Recreation Director and State Representative Stephanie Hyland.
Hyland tries to organize each class around a theme or mantra, and in such a way that residents can drop in as is convenient to them, she said, describing the style as an all-levels Vinyasa flow program.
“You’re not alone, it doesn’t have to be pretty, it doesn’t have to be anything,” Hyland said, and that each session, although different, is geared for self reflection, de-stressing, and leaving one’s problems at the door. The perk of online sessions is there’s no risk of COVID-19 regardless of the number of attendees, she said, and family members can join in with ease.
Hyland was working as a special education teacher and attending yoga classes on her own when she got inspired to teach it herself. “It resonated with me, why wouldn’t it help them?” Hyland recalled asking, and started using yoga to help students focus and prepare for classes, eventually becoming a certified teacher so she could lead a meditation and stretching elective at the school. “It just went from there,” she said, as she began to offer it part-time outside of school and eventually started her own studio in Epping.
“Community outreach is a big part of my life,” Hyland said, and wanted to “jump in right away” to the Francestown community after moving to town in June 2019. She got involved with the Recreation Commission and soon became the director, and hosted a trial community online yoga class in early October, while running what was ultimately a successful campaign for State Representative. “I was so nervous to get started,” she said, in the small, close-knit community of Francestown, “but they’ve welcomed me with open arms and it’s really been a joy to get to know everyone,” she said.
Hyland started an eight-week series of classes in early December, and classes have averaged five participants since then. “I’ll teach to one, it really doesn’t matter, I love offering it,” Hyland said.
Classes are running at 8 a.m. on Tuesdays through Jan. 26, and future classes will be announced soon, Hyland said. The virtual sessions are funded on a donation basis, and donations can be mailed to PO Box 5, Francestown, NH 03043. Checks should be made out to Town of Francestown, memo line: Recreation Trust. Email the Rec. Commission or message Stephanie Hyland to request the Zoom link for the class.