Exercise aficionados will have another option to enhance their fitness routines this Monday. The Wellness Center at the Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital will offer yoga classes in the classroom located in the hospital’s basement.

Classes will be offered Thursday mornings at 8:30 and Monday and Thursday evenings at 5:30.

Jackie Chauvin, the Wellness Center’s personal trainer and a personal practitioner of yoga, will instruct the class. Participants should register with the Wellness Center before attending the class.

“It’s something we’ve wanted to do for a long time,” said Betsy Adams, the director of the Wellness Center. “We are hoping to offer other classes in the future. This is just the beginning.”

The cost of the yoga classes to Wellness Center members and hospital employees is $3 per session with a discounted rate for paying for all of the sessions up front. Those who are not members of the Wellenss Center or not employed by the hospital will pay $5 per session, but are still able to pay a discounted rate for all of the sessions up front. Participants are also responsible for bringing their own yoga mats. Because each session is limited to 25 participants, a waiting list will be used for those who register after the cutoff date.

“It’s important to come to the first couple of lessons, because we will be teaching basic moves,” said Adams. “The rest of the classes will build off of these first few sessions.”

Yoga is a popular branch of exercise that originated in ancient India. It emphasizes physical discipline and mental focus and relaxation. The physical aspect of yoga involves performing poses and postures to develop balance and strength.

Since its opening in 1985, the Wellness Center has aided the citizens in Demopolis in developing healthier and more active lifestyles. The Wellness Center moved into its current, larger location in 1999.

“We’ve grown amazingly since we’ve been here,” Adams said. “We feel like it is time to expand and offer other types of classes.”