After spending two hours in Dilbagh Singh’s version of a yoga class, a tranquil and serene atmosphere permeated the meeting room of the Warren County-Vicksburg Public Library.

Singh took the first of his five-week senior citizen yoga courses at the library Tuesday to break down the importance of breathing and the theory of yoga. His slogan throughout the class was “Know thy breath, breath is health, health is wealth, die healthy.”

“Without food, we could live for days, for months. Without water, we could live for days. Without breath, we can’t survive a few minutes,” he said. “That’s why breath is the most important thing for our life.”

Singh has lived in Mississippi for three years teaching his style of yoga in Hindu and Sikh Temples in the Jackson area.

Shehanna Haque –an AARP safe driving instructor at the senior center – approached him about hosting classes in Vicksburg and he obliged, insisting he’ll work for no charge.

Singh said knowledge should not be sold but given for free and “that’s the tradition still we have in India.” Without a proper understanding of the theory of yoga, he said it’s difficult to understand yoga’s practical side.

His approach came as a surprise to some of the 12 men and women in attendance, but once he dismissed, participants sparked conversations with Singh centered on how peaceful they felt simply through a change in breathing.

“I’m very rejuvenated,” Jennifer Harper said. “The breathing, slowing down, taking the time to take a deep breaths, the few exercise we did, I can feel a difference. It’s terrible to say but living a fast paced life we take all of it for granted.

“We breathe as fast as we live. The class is very slow and making the slow, deep breaths I could feel the difference.”

Harper said her mind felt clear and her body was less anxious to get to the next task of the day.

She said learning about the theory of yoga, the body’s cell development and the beginning of life was intriguing and piqued her interest for the second session, which will talk about how breathing interacts with the internal organs.

Of the few exercises demonstrated in Tuesday’s class, Singh instructed his students to notice the difference between breathing with their palms face up and face down on their knees.

“Knowing about the cells, knowing about the beginning of life; you enter the world taking a breath and when you exit, in other words expire or pass, you exhale,” Harper said. “Breathing is so important.”

Haque also approached Harper to tell her about Singh’s experience with yoga and wanted to gauge the interests of senior citizens.

Despite the typical images of yoga portrayed as a younger, physically fit person’s hobby, Harper was excited to see people of her age want to engage.

“I was very fortunate that Shehanna approached me and (Singh) was coming to do a class at the Southern Cultural Center and I wanted to be a part of it and hopefully it’ll improve everybody’s life.”