Henderson Oracle

Issue date: 9/21/09 Section: Features

Media Credit: Judea Jackson Flex ability - Junior Spanish major Joannna McCauley showcases a yoga position during her advanced level class.

Whether an entering freshman or second year senior, sooner or later all students have to take some form of a physical education class. One might choose to take golf. No worries - students do not have to be as good as Tiger Woods.

It is simply to help keep the student active. Others may pick water aerobics. If being in a pool relaxing while burning calories is something that interests students, then that just might be the P.E. class to pick.

For junior Spanish major Joanna McCauley, the P.E. course of choice is yoga. In fact, this is the third year for McCauley to take yoga, so she is in the advanced level class. What makes that fact even more impressive is that McCauley was born blind. She had no fear about taking the class.

"I just thought it would be something good to do other than just walking," she said.

McCauley has the class every Monday at 5:15 with Henderson yoga instructor Elana Johnson. Although McCauley is not Johnson's first blind student, she has certainly made a lasting impression.

"Joanna is so unique. She really stands out and is so enthusiastic and excited about class," said Johnson.

According to McCauley, her favorite yoga position is warrior one.

Johnson described it as a high lunge with the arms raised above the head, as if in a warrior-like stance. This is a common position that almost anyone can do.

There are some difficulties faced by all involved with the class, though.

"Sometimes Mrs. Johnson will forget to show me how to do something so I just wait for her to notice and come help me," McCauley said.

Johnson said that a challenge she faced was sharpening her communication skills to effectively communicate with McCauley.

McCauley's classmates also have a minor obstacle and that is Frescha, her seeing-eye dog.

Frescha has been with Joanna for two years now. Frescha usually just sits or sleeps while in the class. Fellow students often want to pet her or talk to her, but Frescha is working and needs to be left alone. If one sees her, then her cute charm is obvious and it can be easily understood why she is so hard to resist.

Some students may have the misconception that students with disabilities are somehow different. It is as if the general consensus is that they should be separate and unable to achieve the same tasks.

McCauley is a perfect example of how anybody with any kind of background or lifestyle can branch out and take such a class and have fun.

If considering taking a yoga class McCauley says, "It's a really great class to take to increase flexibility, help tone muscles or even lose weight."

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