MILLERTON — Members of the North East Community Center discussed the importance of community and mindfulness through its programs.
“We can’t be quite as open as we were in the past, but we want to get back to it,” said the director of engagement, Jennifer Kronholm Clark. “And yoga is sort of our first dipping your toes into welcoming the community back into this space.”
With NECC housing a food pantry at its Millerton location, the programs it is able to host is limited at this time.
The community center now hosts free one-hour yoga sessions at different levels out of its building.
A gentle class is instructed by Alix Diaconis on Tuesdays at 8:30 a.m. and a flow yoga class by Caroline Robins takes place on Thursdays 5:30 p.m. A possible Amenia class being added in the future.
“The ability to slow down and check in with yourself which piggybacks into mindfulness, especially in a very busy world, we’re moving fast. We’re going to our jobs,” said Robins.
“Everything is just very fast paced. It’s not always easy, but it is nice to have someone help guide you through that and just kind of bring you to a slower space.”
The courses aim to help the community unite by moving their bodies and even navigate mental and physical challenges.
“As much as it is about movement and that side of health, there’s also the mental health aspect of it, and just seeing someone, especially in a small town, kind of all spread out,” Robins said. “It’s a common meeting place for people to be like, ‘Hey, I see you. You see me.’”
According to Diaconis, a few of her students attending the classes have had surgeries and use these sessions as a supplement to physical therapy, of course, to their own best judgement.
“I have pretty major scoliosis, so it really helps with my pain level, but because of that, I never thought I could be a yoga teacher, because I can’t do a lot,” Diaconis explained, “I’m not that flexible. I don’t look like what you see in photos, but then I realized that that was a misnomer, and anyone could do yoga, and everybody can do yoga, so I decided to become an instructor again.”
In order to be an instructor, a person must be yoga-certified and receive proper training, with the ability to study 200, 300 or 500 hours. Both Diaconis and Robins completed their certification through Yoga Alliance, enabling them to teach at the community center.
Diaconis explained how recently the yoga community has been picking up with a total of eight students who have been attending, surpassing the usual crowd of three to five attendees. She said when the weather gets warmer, classes are held outside, which can be appealing to some. The program is looking into ways to entice people into joining the community.
“There was a senior exercise class that was very popular, and people still ask for it. So we’re looking into what else we can offer,” said Kronholm Clark. “We’re hoping at some point to do some Zumba, like there’s been a lot of interest in that. I think bringing back the senior exercise class would also be really popular if we can figure out how to do that.”
NECC is currently looking for volunteers with certifications or training who could potentially offer additional services to the community and assist the program in growing.
Kronholm Clark asks those who may be interested to reach out to the community center. “Our mission is creating a thriving community, and a big part of that is being healthy and having access to other people,” Kronholm Clark said. “Whenever we can give people an opportunity to move their bodies and take care of themselves and then do it in community, we’re looking for more ways to do that.”
Justine and Victor Valla in their studio with a painting of Victor’s,”Jonah and the Whale.” Robin Roraback 
