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MIT student blogger Mitra L. '07

Yoga by Mitra L. '07

The joys of physical education

(I can file an entry on Yoga under “Academic” right?)

Today I received this email from the Committee on Academic Performance (links are all mine)

According to our records, you have not completed the General Institute Requirement in Physical Education. The requirement includes successful completion of the swim test (or beginning swimming class) and a total of 8 Physical Education points. It was your responsibility to fulfill this requirement by the end of your sophomore year. (Mitra note: WHATEVER) It is imperative that you take steps to complete this requirement as soon as possible or you will place your graduation status in jeopardy. If you have special needs, such as gender specific swim environment or modifications due to a disability, please notify the physical education office 8 weeks in advance of registration, so that arrangements can be discussed.

Include Physical Education classes in your IAP or spring schedule to ensure completion of this General Institute Requirement.

The physical education lottery can be found online at: http://web.mit.edu/athletics/www/physed/index.html

The registration dates are:
IAP December 5 – December 13
3rd Quarter January 30 – February 6
4th Quarter March 13 – March 20

Looks like DAPER doesn’t believe that I care about physical education, despite my previous entry on PE classes and my previous entry on training for the Boston Marathon. Eh, I always knew Sam’s Blog was more popular anyway.

WELL turns out I am in fact taking Beginner’s Yoga this quarter. Every Tuesday and Thursday from 12 to 1, I am in the T Club Lounge, sprawled on purple yoga mats that probably haven’t been cleaned for years, trying to undo the damage of 20 years of yoga-less life. See below for some exciting photographs of what we’ve learned so far:

First, we start out with a few minutes of controlled breathing. (Note the flowers and lava lamp)

Then we work on stretching our legs

Balance! (Honestly, this is so hard to do. In class, I can’t stand like this for more than 30 seconds or so. Try it yourself and see how it goes!)

Our kitchen floor is really dirty

Remind you of anything? (JK)

11 responses to “Yoga”

  1. Mollie says:

    I totally hear that “whatever”. I got a similar email from the CAP the other day, only it was more threatening because they were like WE ARE NOT GOING TO PUT YOU ON THE DEGREE LIST IF YOU DON’T FINISH THE PE REQUIREMENT, YOU LAZY BUM.

    So I guess I’ll have to take the swim test soon…

  2. Sam says:

    Oh, I think you should have been God.

  3. Laura says:

    Yeah, I love how they’re “graduation requirements” that you have to finish by sophomore year. Because that makes sense. Silly DAPER. =)

  4. Babu says:

    Can u give the uandergraduation admission recuirements for the subject of Aerospace Engineering.

  5. Mitra says:

    Hi Babu,

    There are no department-specific admissions requirements for undergraduates. No matter what you think you’re going to major in, MIT will admit you to the entire Institute, and you can change your mind if you’d like. This means that you’re not limited to a single program or department, and this is true even after you’ve initially declared your major (usually freshman year) if you’d like to change it later.

    Hope this helps,

    Mitra

  6. Minh says:

    What happens if you fail PE requirement? (that is, you take the swim test etc., and fail) ;?

  7. JDub says:

    If you fail the swim test, Pres. Hockfield comes to your dorm room and spits at your feet.

  8. Mridul says:

    Hello Mitra!

    So you guys have also started to do yoga etc. It is a good thing. We, here in India, have been doing this for years as a daily affair. I must say these exercises have a lot of healing power. Even modern day biologists have approved this.

    Also, have you guys heard of “The Art of Living Foundation”(http://www.artofliving.org )their courses help relieve stress and tension just by rythmic breathing. Its founder Sri Sri Ravishankar has invented this technique called “Sudarshan Kriya” which enhances body & brain function. Its my personal experience and I regularly practice this technique. And also, this foundation is not affiliated with any religion or region. Maybe you can find their centres somewhere near you too.

    Keep up the Good Work!!

  9. RAYMUNDO says:

    it so good that you practice yoga it will help you to keep your mental and spiritual health