Dealing with unemployment can create a lot of stress in your life. But, a yoga instructor is using her practice to reach out to job seekers.

Every Thursday, Kay Geraghty spends an hour forgetting her troubles. She recently sold her Mondovi coffee shop – leaving her unemployed and looking for something to keep her busy.

"I saw the ad in the paper and I just thought, well, this is very interesting,” she said. “I've never done yoga."

"Doing yoga postures increases your energy flow, can kind of help you start thinking about what's next,” said instructor, Kathy McAlister.

"I actually have four members of my family that live in different parts of the country that in the last year have had their jobs impacted by the economy,” she said. “And we know it's happening here in our community."

Kathy says her unemployment yoga class is free and can help people find their center during a time of stress and uncertainty.

"You do get to kind of check out of your daily life and the stress for an hour and tune into our body,” Kathy said. “Some people like it for the physical practice and the getting into shape. Some people like it for the community. Some people like it for the centering, the calmness."

And some, like Kay, enjoy losing themselves in this world of poses.

"It's an hour out of the week where you just concentrate on the inner part of you and you just calm down and sort of just balance yourself with the world,” Kay said.

Kathy holds her classes at the Yoga Center of Eau Claire on Water Street. To reserve a spot, call 720-7597.

You can also learn more here.