The South Dakota Art Museum hosted an evening yoga event late last month, and it turned out a success.
The class sold out three weeks before the day of the event. A total of 22 participants were at this event with a mix of students, staff, faculty and Brookings community members.
The idea of having a yoga class in the museum came about in 2022 when Abigail Ramsbottom, coordinator and curator of education at the museum, interviewed for her current position.
Ramsbottom suggested the idea because she does yoga daily to help balance and ground her, which she believes correlates with the museum’s principles.
“At the South Dakota Art Museum, we aim to inspire creativity, connect people and enrich lives through art,” Ramsbottom said. “We hope to encourage folks to look at and enjoy art in a new way.”
A highlight of this event was the exhibit were the yoga was at, The Signe Stuart’s Events in Time & Space. Stuart is an artist who captures the passage of time through patience and process, repetition and color, to present pleasing and harmonious events for viewers to experience. Stuart was a professor of visual arts at South Dakota State University from 1972 to 1994, according to her website.
The Events in Time & Space exhibit gathers artworks from Stuart’s last 60 years of professional work. Her pieces rely on experimentation of painting materials and forms, often breaking from the standard rectangle and concepts of framing. Stuart’s website says that she used different materials to create pieces; such as a canvas, scroll, paper, Tyvek or Vacuform panels.
While selecting this space, the museum directors carefully considered how much floor space was needed to accommodate the yoga program. Ramsbottom said that a key factor is within the viewing experience when selecting what artists and pieces are being displayed.
Another factor being Mandy Lyons, an instructor at Prairie Soul. Lyons was selected to lead this season’s event. She is a resident of Brookings and a third-generation Jackrabbit.
Lyons has taught yoga classes for eight years at Brookings Prairie Soul Studio. Prairie Soul is located behind T.J. Maxx. The studio offers multiple class types and around two to four classes a day. Lyons teaches a variety of classes, but her favorite classes are vinyasa and yoga for strength.
Lyons said that when preparing for a class, she follows the same routine every time. She first starts by planning the sequencing or “flow” for the class. She then starts creating a music playlist that fits with the sequencing. Lyons would end her preparation by finding a Nidra script that will work well with the class style and the venue.
A Nidra script is a reading that helps calm the body and relax the mind. It is often used for a period of meditation during yoga.
The yoga class hosted March 19 was not the first for Lyons at the museum. This is her second time teaching here and she thinks that it is a beautiful space for yoga and meditation. She selected a gentle class with yoga Nidra (guided meditation) for this space. Lyons said this style of yoga is a favorite among yogis as it is thoughtful, intentional and slow.
Cuecas-Panza Ramsbottom does not regularly attend yoga classes, but he does practice at home. He also regularly attends the art museum and the events that are hosted.
“I enjoyed the poses and the general flow of the class,” said Cuecas-Panza Ramsbottom, attendee of the class. “I enjoyed winding down at the end of the class with some meditation and light stretches, and of course, it is an awesome opportunity to mix yoga with beautiful art.”
Hayden Barber, assistant professor of communication and an attendee, shared a similar experience.
“Mandy made everyone feel very comfortable and gave everyone the chance to explore what their bodies could do in a calming and creative environment,” Barber said. “The location of the art museum provided a calming yet inspiring location for reflection and peace.”
The collaboration of art and fitness isn’t one of a kind. The museum says that community and campus members can look forward to a free yoga class every season.