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| About 30 copy editors got up early Saturday to learn yoga as a way to stay limber
and serene on the job. |
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From stressed out
to stretched out
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Yoga lesson teaches copy editors to relax
their muscles and minds.
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By Gerri Berendzen
Copy
editors have to be flexible.
On Saturday morning, a group of about 30 copy editors put a different kind of flexibility
to the test in the first “Yoga for Copy Editors” session at an ACES national conference.
The editors de-stressed, relaxed and energized themselves -- even if some of them
fell down a little on the flexibility part.
Melissa McCoy of the Los Angeles Times, ACES vice president for membership, invited
her yoga instructor, Marni Green, to put the editors through their paces and give
them a lesson in stretching.
| ''YOGA FOR COPY EDITORS,'' presented by Marni Green |
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Instead of stretching time or patience, this group
of editors got to stretch muscles tightened by hours behind a computer -- or maybe
hours standing in the hotel bar the night before.
And though some of the older and more out of shape editors couldn’t quite complete
all the poses after “downward facing dog,” Green was gracious and allowed everyone
to work at his or her own pace.
Green, who teaches yoga in Pasadena, said the world is suffering from “TDB” -- too
darn busy syndrome.
“We need a chance to take time to breathe and to stretch -- we’re all sitting all
day and doing too much,” Green said.
“Yoga will bring you back into yourself. It offers serenity with intensity; energy
and serenity.”
As copy editors sitting behind a computer all day, often in an office filled with
snacks and filled with tension on deadline, it’s a lesson many of us need to learn.
Some of Saturday morning’s participants were old hat at yoga. Others took the opportunity
to try yoga for the first time. But everyone was game, willing to help a copy editing
colleague with the partner stretch, a two-person stretch that really worked the kinks
out of the neck and shoulders.
Deanna Engle of the St. Petersburg Times appreciates the chance to get a workout.
She also made use of the hotel gym during the conference for a treadmill run.
“We’ve been trying to convince the St. Pete management to put in a gym,” she said.
Malcolm Gibson, a professor at the University of Kansas, sat talking to Engle after
the yoga session. When asked if he does yoga regularly he said, “No, I drink.”
“But seriously, I was just interested in testing out the yoga. For the younger editors
it’s a good stress relief. For those of us who are older, it’s stretching. And old
muscles need that.”
And this group of 30-some editors will go home more relaxed, and just a little more
flexible about life.
Gerri Berendzen is copy desk chief at the Quincy (Ill.) Herald-Whig and is not
flexible at all … at least when it comes to muscles. And if she can do yoga, anyone
can do it. |
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