From October 5th to 14th, the outdoor yoga program hosted by the SNU Center for Sport Development & Promotion and the POSCO Sports Center was held. The lessons were held free of charge four times, and various university community members participated, ranging from undergraduate students to graduate students and faculty members. Participants enjoyed yoga from 7:40 to 8:30 am at SNU’s main sports complex in the morning sunlight.

Participants practicing outdoor yoga at SNU’s main sports complex

Morning outdoor yoga program showed high participation and satisfaction rate

This yoga program was devised to help university community members maintain physical and mental health in light of numerous restrictions on sports activities due to COVID-19. In particular, the number of sessions has increased commemorating the 20th anniversary of the POSCO Sports Center. The Center for Sport Development & Promotion and the POSCO Sports Center have hosted yoga and swimming classes free of charge for university community members since May. Many university community members participated in this year’s programs. Applications for the morning yoga program were filled in only 15 minutes, prompting an increase in class size. According to Team Leader Cho Kwang-won (POSCO Sports Center), who is in charge of devising and managing sports programs, the participation rate was high. “We even adjusted construction work hours for the main sports complex to ensure the participants’ satisfaction.”

Fujimoto Coco (Department of Education) mentioned the positive changes after participating in the program, “practicing yoga in the morning sunlight, I could spend the day more lively and sleep well at night. I signed up for this program once again because I was satisfied with the yoga last May’s yoga session.” She also added that she wanted to participate in other programs hosted by the Center for Sport Development & Promotion and the POSCO Sports Center.

20th Anniversary of the POSCO Sports Center, striving to help improve university community member’s health in the face of COVID-19

The POSCO Sports Center was established in September 2001 to promote the physical and mental health of university community members. Its main building (Building no. 71-2), located next to the university gym (Building no. 71) provides a variety of sports facilities such as a squash court, swimming pool, and an indoor golf course. University members could enjoy various sports activities such as fitness, golf, squash, swimming, jazz dance, ballet, yoga and pilates. In addition to its main venue, POSCO Sports Center also operates external gyms in various locations throughout the campus. These are located at the College of Engineering (Building no. 39, basement), the College of Natural Sciences (Building no. 500, basement, building no. 300, 2nd floor), and the College of Medicine.

The POSCO Sports Center closed last December due to the strengthening of COVID-19 regulations for the Seoul metropolitan area and then resumed its operation on January 18th. Team Leader Cho emphasized the center’s work to improve members’ health despite the risk of contagion. “To promote university community member’s health and well-being, the center reopened even in the situation of strict social distancing.” Since its reopening, the POSCO Sports Center has expanded its operating facilities and programs while complying with the regulations such as requiring face masks for all visitors, utilizing electronic visitor records, and limiting occupancy. As of October 2021, both the main building and external facilities are open, and all programs excluding children’s classes are in normal operation. Any new updates are provided through its website.

Following the success of the yoga special class, the Center for Sport Development & Promotion and the POSCO Sports Center are expected to continue conducting special sports programs. University community members would benefit by actively participating in these sports activities, keeping their body and mind safe and sound during the COVID-19 situation.

Source: https://www.snu.ac.kr/snunow/snu_story?md=v&bbsidx=133711
Written by Jaeyong lee, SNU English Editor, moonn6pence@snu.ac.kr
Reviewed by Professor Travis Smith, Department of Asian Languages and Civilizations, tlsmith@snu.ac.kr