Yoga is a powerful and accessible way for college students and staff to care for their mental, emotional, and physical well-being, especially during busy days.

At RRC Polytech, yoga is offered as a welcoming pause in the middle of the day: a chance to step away from screens, deadlines, and stress, and reconnect with your body and breath. Our lunch-hour yoga classes are open to all levels of experience, whether you’re brand new to yoga or returning to a familiar practice. Mats and blocks are provided, so all you need to bring is yourself and a willingness to try something new.

Research shows that yoga can help reduce stress and anxiety, improve focus and mood, support physical strength and mobility, while encouraging emotional balance. These benefits are especially meaningful in a college environment, where mental load and long hours can take a toll.

Our current offerings reflect this holistic approach to well-being. Both instructors create inclusive, supportive classes that emphasize mindful movement, breath awareness, and accessibility.

• Monday Hatha Yoga with Nicole Haverda, in-person only at the Exchange District Campus downtown.
• Wednesday Gentle Flow Yoga with Jaimie Bristow, in-person, live streamed and recorded at the Notre Dame Campus.

Whether you’re looking to manage stress, move your body gently, improve focus, or simply take a mindful break at lunch, our college yoga classes offer a supportive space to prioritize your well-being, on and off the mat.

Monday Hatha Yoga with Nicole Haverda

Meet Nicole Haverda, your Monday Hatha Yoga instructor at EDC downtown. Nicole Haverda is a yoga instructor and wellness practitioner passionate about creating welcoming, empowering spaces where people can connect with themselves and others. Nicole brings experience in Hatha, restorative, yin, vinyasa, slow flow, and yin-yang yoga, adapting each practice to support a range of abilities and experience levels.

With a focus on mindfulness and nervous system regulation, Nicole weaves breathwork, meditation, and mindful movement into her classes. Her approach encourages participants to slow down, build body awareness, and develop practical tools for balance and self-regulation.

Known as HAVS NRGY, Nicole’s Hatha classes offer an opportunity to build strength, flexibility, and awareness while cultivating a grounded connection between mind and body.

Wednesday Gentle Flow Yoga with Jaimie Bristow

Take a midweek pause with Wednesday Gentle Flow Yoga, designed to support your mental and physical well-being. Led by Jaimie Bristow, this class blends slow, mindful movement with conscious breath to help ease tension, improve focus, and restore balance. Gentle Flow is accessible for all levels and perfect for students and staff looking for a calming, supportive practice.

Attend in person, join the live stream, or access the recorded class, whatever fits your schedule. This flexible, inclusive yoga experience offers a steady reset for your body and mind during the week.

Further Reading

• Harvard Health – Yoga for better mental health
• Healthline – Yoga for stress relief and anxiety management
• National Holistic Health Partners (NHPC) – Research on yoga benefits
• Johns Hopkins Medicine – 9 Benefits of Yoga
• National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) – Yoga for Health: What the Science Says