Savasana at sunset in Rockefeller Chapel? Yoga-to try it!

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As we relaxed into savasana, the final resting pose of most yoga practices, I opened my eyes and noticed the evening light pouring through Rockefeller Memorial Chapel’s stained-glass window, lighting up the vaulted ceiling 80 feet above me with color.

It struck me how special it was to be able to take a yoga class, free of charge, on my way home from work, inside such a gorgeous building on the University of Chicago’s Hyde Park campus. Though I’ve thought about trying yoga in Rockefeller for a long time, it took writing this story to push me to take the plunge, and it was well worth it. I hope sharing my experience will encourage others to take advantage of the various free offerings the University’s Office of Spiritual Life has to share with the entire campus community.

I don’t consider myself to be a yogi, but I’ve used my introductory free week at CorePower Yoga and am no stranger to the famous Yoga With Adriene YouTube channel. Despite my limited experience, I felt completely comfortable and welcomed by Spiritual Life’s Tuesday evening yoga offering, titled ‘Gentle Yoga.’ A class designed for all levels, it focuses on stretching gently and breathing deeply. Connecting poses into a fluid series, participants pause in each posture long enough to reconnect to the body and breathe, creating a moving meditation.

I joined the class’s 15 or so attendees, a balanced group of students, academics, staff, and community members, in the 95-year-old Gothic architecture masterpiece for just a few minutes before the start of class, yoga mat tucked under my arm. The atmosphere was already peaceful and meditative with the instructor, Rob Zabel, playing classical ragas music to set the tone. Zabel is a master’s program candidate at UChicago studying Sanscrit and Hindi and teaches yoga weekly for both Spiritual Life and at the Ratner Athletics Center for Athletics and Recreation. Next to his mat, Zabel also had a hand-pumped harmonium, a portable string instrument integral to much of Indian music. Zabel used the harmonium to accompany optional meditations throughout the evening’s practice. I’ve never attended a yoga class that incorporated this musical element, but—especially in such a grand space—it was a little bit magical.

When class began and we started our flow, I was comforted to find the sequence very familiar, beginning with deep breathing before moving into cat/cow, downward facing dog, warrior poses, and my personal favorite, pigeon pose, among others. Zabel explained the mechanics of each pose as well as the benefits of practicing the movements, giving everyone time to explore the pose at their own pace. By the end of the class, I was left feeling completely reset, any stress from the workday melted away into the Indiana limestone floor.

Gentle Yoga is just one of four weekly yoga classes from Spiritual Life offered for free to all members of the community—other options include Ashtanga Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, and Yin. Registration is not required for any class, and all are welcome, regardless of spiritual affiliations.

As Zabel encouraged newcomers: “Just show up!”

No previous experience with yoga is required or expected, though beginners might be more comfortable in the Gentle, Yin, or Vinyasa classes before trying the more advanced Ashtanga. If meditation is more your thing, Spiritual Life also offers five meditation sessions throughout the week with varying levels of guidance. Those just getting started can schedule a one-on-one Sit.Breathe.Talk session (walk-ins are welcome too!), also led by Zabel, where he will guide the meditator through a session to help them get a feel for the practice, or, if more advanced, how to deepen their practice.

Spiritual Life’s messaging consistently includes some variation of “all are welcome,” regardless of religious affiliation or spiritual beliefs.

“We have always had an interfaith approach and welcome… all students, A to Z, everything in between, including those who are multi-faith, untraditionally religious, seeking, questioning, wandering and wondering,” said Jigna Shah, the Associate Dean and Director of Spiritual Life.

This openness was palpable in the yoga class. Any spoken meditations during the yoga flow were optional and came with no pressure to participate.

Whether you’re interested in achieving self-realization and spiritual enlightenment, or just want to unwind after a long day of work, Spiritual Life’s yoga offerings are an excellent on-campus resource.

View all the Office of Spiritual Life has to offer on its website.

About Emma: As a digital communications senior specialist at UChicago, Emma manages and publishes content for the University’s internal communications and other digital channels, including the UChicago Intranet, the UChicago Citizen, and uchicago.edu. With a bachelor’s degree in Theatrical Studies from Ball State University, Emma is also a published playwright and theatre artist active in the Chicago theatre community.