Ryan Barrett is a Horticulture major at OSU. Due to an unfortunate accident, Ryan tore the ACL and PCL in his knee. As part of his recovery, Ryan engaged in physical therapy to regain strength and mobility. Ryan incorporated bits and pieces of yoga into his daily routine. On his path to recovery he discovered a newfound love for yoga. His dedication and practice has led him to becoming a yoga instructor for Recreational Sports.

When asked about the importance of yoga in a person’s life Ryan remarked, “Yoga is something everyone should do. Exercise is not only about lifting weights and running on the field. Opening up different muscle groups of the body, keeping the spine neutral – these are all very important aspects of exercise. Meditation, pranayama (breathing exercises) and Asana (poses) are the three aspects of Yoga. Each of these aspects has a distinct role to play in a person’s spiritual, mental and physical wellness.”

Ryan Barrett

Anyone who has attended Ryan’s Fit Pass class at Dixon would know that he starts by asking what level of practice the participants in the mood for and then proceeds accordingly. “I never really plan routines or stick to a defined set of poses. Yoga is all about following your breath. Your breath leads the tempo and allows you to stretch your muscles. For each session of practice, the body needs to warm up and prepare to reach that pose.”

Music plays an integral part of Ryan’s classes. Yoga is rhythmic routine of poses and music which allows a harmonious flow of transitions. “Picking the right music is probably the most difficult part. I need to pick a song that has the right amount of energy without engaging too much emotion. It needs to start with pleasant beats, lead up to a high tempo and then fall into soothing rhythm. Each person should be able to follow his breathing with the beat of the music rather than getting distracted by the robustness of the song.”

Ryan Barrett

In addition to playing the role of an instructor, Ryan works out at Dixon. He believes in a well-rounded and balanced exercise routine. “I love the rowing machine. I also like attending the Body Pump class.” Being a horticulture major also makes Ryan more aware of the science of food and how it affects the human body. He strongly believes in a diet that is rich in probiotics. “We come into this world as parents. There are millions of communities of bacteria in our bodies. Digestion is a very violent process and a lot of bacteria gets crushed. It is our choice to decide whether we want to raise good communities inside of us. You will notice that recommendations for a healthy diet include some form of probiotics. Indian diet, for example, will always have a cup of yogurt with every meal.”

Ryan believes the biggest problem to maintaining good health is a sedentary lifestyle. “Students, especially, have to sit long durations in classes and while doing homework. It then becomes imperative to consciously keep oneself active. Instead of playing video games for two hours, go to the gym. Make it your priority to be active!”

Ryan Barrett

Apart from his daily routine, Ryan enjoys playing the guitar and gardening. He likes to cook the vegetables he grows because it gives him a chance to experiment behind the science of growing that particular vegetable. In his spare time, Ryan enjoys getting out in the great outdoors “I love to be in the middle of nowhere…amidst the pure beauty of nature.”

 


Written By: Saanjhi Lakhani

Web and Social Media Student Coordinator