Joanne Marshall didn't exercise often 12 years ago. But as she watched her mother become ill and less mobile each day" she realized she had to make a life change.
Yoga was the change she needed. The School of Information and Library Science professor has been teaching yoga at UNC since 2001.
She will be leading a class at noon today in the Ackland Art Museum as part of the semimonthly ""Yoga in the Galleries"" event.
""We're the only museum to offer Yoga in the Galleries"" said Nic Brown, director of communications at the Ackland.
Yoga in the Galleries is one of several public events that is part of the art museum's efforts to reach out to the community.
The Ackland is a primary resource for education"" Brown said. The more experiences we can get outside of the Ackland itself the better.""
""Lunch with 1"" is monthly event that brings in an expert to discuss a piece of art or music. ""Art after Dark"" allows attendees to buy drinks from a cash bar while exploring art galleries.
Each program strategically takes place in the evening or during lunch when professionals would more likely be able to attend.
""We've been trying over the past two years to expand our public programming" Brown said. If you were just to look at a calendar of programs for Ackland just for the spring" it's been exponentially larger.""
But while programming has expanded"" the museum has quickly reached its capacity.
""We've reached saturation relatively quickly"" Brown said.
Brown said the museum hosts smaller events because of the museum's limited space, but is looking to host events elsewhere.
For example, Brown said holding a large concert within the Ackland's 25,639 square feet, confined to small galleries, would prove difficult.
He said the smaller events such as Yoga in the Galleries help promote public attendance for now.
Marshall said the quaint experiences offered by the art museum are important. She also teaches yoga at Ramshead Recreation Center on Tuesday nights, and said the opportunity to do yoga in art gallery was a rare and captivating experience.
I think there are people who are coming in that would not have come before"" she said. People seem to be very intrigued by the idea of doing yoga in an art gallery.""
Marshall said her style of yoga" which focuses more on reflection" fits nicely with the atmosphere of the Buddha-filled art galleries.
""The more important side of yoga to me is this more reflective" centering and calming side" she said. It's just a beautiful place to do this style of yoga.""
ATTEND THE CLASS
Time: Noon today
Location: Ackland Art Museum
Info: www.ackland.org
Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
