Yoga is a proven way to beat stress, and in the middle of second semester, we could all use a little mental clarity. While MizzouRec offers plenty of yoga classes, sometimes it’s nice to get away from campus. But with so many local studios to choose from, it’s important to consider what you want out of a yoga session.

Located in the North Village Arts District, Yogasol is a professional yoga studio and registered yoga school. Owner Polly Sweitzer trains instructors through Yoga Alliance and ensures her teachers are certified.

Sweitzer is passionate about the power of yoga.

“It’s a deep, ancient, artistic and spiritual process,” Sweitzer says. She attempts to make the Yogasol environment nurturing and tranquil. The beach ambience of the studio echoes her home in California.

Yogasol offers lrengyr and vinyasa flow yoga, variations of Hatha and specialty classes. Yogasol has classes for all levels throughout the day, each day of the week.

Sweitzer is excited about the newest leg of Yogasol, a series of excursions around the world called “soljourns.” These soljourns are weeklong retreats in exotic locations that fully immerse students in yoga through practice twice daily, meditation and the ability to experience local culture through food, exploration and activities like surfing.

Sweitzer and her studio have traveled to Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Bali and more in pursuit of the yoga lifestyle.

_A single class at Yogasol is $15 and passes for different levels of participation can be purchased online at yogasol.org._

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alleyCat Yoga, located on 17 N. Fourth St., offers many different types of yoga, such as align and flow, hatha, dharma, candlelight yoga and kripalu.

“Every kind of yoga we offer is based upon authentic traditional practices,” studio owner Susan Mathis says. She selects her teachers based on spiritual and professional guidelines.

“I’m looking for someone my students can entrust their mind, body, and spirit to. They need to bring a deep understanding of yoga as a philosophical practice,” Mathis says.

Mathis and instructor Ken McRae are both E-RYG200 certified, the highest level of professional yoga. All teachers are trained through a registered yoga school, and have more than 1,000 hours of experience under their belts.

Mathis’ goal revolves around creating a safe and sacred place for yoga practice for students from every spectrum. She is enthusiastic about the abilities of her teachers, and urges people of all skill levels to try yoga.

In addition to yoga classes, McRae leads retreats around the world to places such as Europe, Costa Rica and India. These trips allow students to experience yoga in its full capacity. In the Summer, alleyCat offers 21 Day Sunrise, a multiple-week-long excursion that commits to a practice every single day.

“alleyCat retreats are intensive experiences that allow people to step outside everyday life and really steep themselves in the practice,” Mathis says.

_alleyCat’s new student special gives beginners the chance to try classes for two weeks for $36. Sunday classes are $5, weekly drop-in classes are $16 for 75 minutes or $13 for 60 minutes. There are also several different levels of monthly passes available. All alleyCat classes require no registration._

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If you don’t mind traveling a little out of the way, Sumits Hot Yoga at 505 E. Nifong Blvd. offers a unique twist to regular yoga. The heated rooms cause profuse sweating, which benefits the body in many ways. In 100-105-degree temperatures, students can sweat their way to calm minds and toned bodies by ridding their bodies of toxins.

Regardless of familiarity or skill level, Sumits encourages people of all ages and skill levels to participate in hot yoga.

_Anyone over 15 can sign up online to take classes. Each session is at least 60 minutes long and some are 80 minutes. Sumits offers mostly hot yoga, although there is also a weekly deep stretch class.

Sumits has community classes for $7 and other classes are $15 each. Class cards beginning at five classes for $139 and up can be purchased online along with registration at sumitsyogacolumbia.com._