Life's funny twists

Local woman plans to twist Fuquay into relaxation

Fuquay-Varina resident Charlotte Ranz had no idea that several years ago when she worked in the Oval Office for President Ronald Reagan that she would be teaching yoga locally.

Triangle pose.

A former correspondent for WRAL Channel 5 in Raleigh, Ranz had been a student of yoga for nine years, before she decided she wanted to teach yoga.

"I've been teaching now for three years," Ranz said.

"I taught at the Joy of Yoga Studio and at Bond Park with the Cary City Recreation Center, and at Moving Mantra in north Raleigh."

And beginning in September, Ranz will offer yoga classes in Fuquay to anyone willing to try it, under the name Red Elephant Yoga.

"Some people are skeptical of what yoga is all about," Ranz said.

So to ease the skeptics' beliefs, Ranz will offer to free yoga classes on Wednesday, Aug. 20, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and Thursday, Aug. 21 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

"By offering the free class, you can experience for yourself if yoga is right for you and it won't cost you anything," she said.

Ranz said that many people think that yoga is a difficult experience that involves what she calls "pretzel" yoga, where the student must contort their body into odd positions like a pretzel.

But she discourages those types of thoughts.

"It can be a relaxing process, for people of all ages, sizes, and physical conditions," Ranz said.

During Red Elephant Yoga classes, Ranz said that students would have a safe place to enjoy this form of exercise.

Tree pose.

Ranz said that newcomers to yoga will find out that yoga is no "hocus pocus," there is no incense, no bending your leg behind your head, and no religion involved.

"Yoga is really relaxation, stretching, and positions that can be done in a chair or standing up," she said.

As a certified yoga instructor, Ranz underwent 500 hours of training to educate others on the philosophy of yoga.

"There was lots of education in the human anatomy, where we are better trained to understand the mechanics of the body," she said.

Downward-dog pose.

After trying out the free class, Ranz said that people interested in yoga will have a better awareness of their body and muscles, breathing patterns, concentration, as well as develop better flexibility and mobility.

"They can learn yoga on the mat or yoga in a chair, and eventually they will learn how to apply yoga off the mat in their everyday lives," she said.

"Yoga can be used for stress reduction, making you a happy and peaceful person in the long run."

Attendees on Aug. 20 and 21, should wear comfortable clothes like sweatpants, shorts, a loose shirt, and no shoes are needed. Also bring a mat or towel to lay on the floor, as well as a bottle of water to drink.

associate editor Keisha Webb-Gibbs can be reached at 552-5675 or keishawebbgibbs@yahoo.com.