Returning to Eastern’s campus this fall is “Yoga for Daily Living,” a relaxation and body strengthening workshop led by two Eastern math instructors, which began its second session Monday.

Suhrit Dey and his wife Roma lead the workshop and stress that yoga is not an exercise of the body whatsoever, but an exercise of the mind and body working together towards a common peace.

“The body is a temple, and you must treat your own temple with respect,” Suhrit said. “You must be nice to your body, and take it easy on your body; never force the body to do anything you do not want it to do.”

The weekly class meets Monday nights at 7 p.m. in the upper meeting room at the Student Recreation Center, with no charge to Eastern students. For faculty and other adults, there is a $32 fee for the six-week session.

Suhrit said that students are welcome to attend the sessions, and they can just show up.

Charleston resident Sandra Baumgartner, who works with the Biological Sciences department, is in her third year of the sessions, and feels every session is an incredible experience.

“I love it. All three years I have done yoga have been with Dr. Dey, and I feel we are lucky to have such a great man as Dr. Dey to lead this,” said Baumgartner.

Suhrit and Roma both stressed that yoga must be done everyday, for at least 20 minutes.

“Yoga must be done everyday in order to strengthen the mind to its full potential,” the Deys emphasized.

“Doing yoga on an empty stomach is also important, so that the body can function fully,” Roma said.

Suhrit started doing yoga in July of 1956, and hasn’t gone a day without yoga since.

“I follow the criteria of books which are hundreds of years old,” Dey says. “With my math classes I teach, I can change the course plans and ideas for the class. With Yoga, the rules of the books must be followed for full effect.”

“If you can unite your mind and your body, you become pure, you become free, you are divine,” Dey said.

“This is what all Yogi (everyday practioneer of Yoga) strive for and accomplish.”

Suhrit has a book out titled “Yoga and Meditation: Act of Living,” which can be purchased at Amazon.com.