The Hill’s Best-Kept Secret for Midday Peace

Midday Mindful Movement Yoga at the Hill Center

As I sat with a group of yoga students on mats, breathing slowly and deeply in a quiet room at the Hill
Center, I could feel myself relax. This was my first visit to the Hill Center’s Mindful Movement Yoga
class, but within minutes my mind was far removed from the noisy road work and traffic outside and
worlds away from the clamor and chaos of life in 2025.

After we settled in, instructor Anne Harrison (yoga/Sanskrit name: Jayanti) guided us through a
peaceful hour of mindful movement. We warmed up with gentle Tai Chi moves to limber up our joints
and loosen our limbs, then slowly flowed through a series of traditional yoga poses—standing poses,
twists, forward folds and seated postures—to increase our flexibility and build strength, while also
calming our minds.

Jayanti, who has 18 years of teaching experience, provided easy-to-follow verbal cues for each pose
and offered alternative options, making the class suitable for beginners and experienced practitioners
alike, as well as anyone dealing with an injury. Student who didn’t know a Downward Dog from a
Cobra Pose were in good hands with her guidance. As is traditional, the class ended with a few minutes
of relaxation, allowing time for us to absorb the benefits of the postures.

Jayanti later told me she wants her students to come away from her class with a sense of relief in their
bodies and space in their minds. “I want them to feel like they’re here, they’re present, they’re safe and
they’re at peace for this one hour.”

“I am passionately committed to creating a safe practice for everyone where the student can work
according to his/her/their physical and mental capacity in any given moment,” she said. “I encourage
students to use props (e.g., blankets, blocks, straps) as props make many poses available to those who
might need extra support.”

Think you’re not flexible enough for yoga? That is an excellent reason to come to a class! Improved
flexibility is a major fringe benefit of a regular yoga practice. As Jayanti said, “For those of us who
want to age gracefully, let’s do yoga!”

If you’re interested in adding some peace, calm, strength, and flexibility to your life, the next 5-week
session begins on Thursday, November 13. Classes run from 12:30-1:30.

Written by Sharon M. Hannon. She is a freelance writer/editor, historical researcher and long-time
Hill resident. Her clients have included PBS, the Library of Congress, NASA and other government
agencies and various health care organizations. She has written two books, Women Explorers and
Punks: A Guide to an American Subculture.