Have you ever wondered why staff at CQUniversity Gladstone campus seem so relaxed?

In the context of promoting community engagement and work wellness, regular yoga classes have been offered at the campus since October last year and have been a resounding success, according to yoga instructor and lecturer Muriel Strahm.

Upon gaining international yoga teacher registration with the Yoga Alliance, Ms Strahm was approached by several staff members who suggested the ancient form of yoga should be offered to staff in-house.

Taking part in yoga classes in Gladstone are (back row) Charmaine Thompson and Debbie Hunt and (front row) Paul Hannah, Sandra Pugh and Valarie Hough.Support from the campus manager Sue Oakey resulted in general and beginner classes being made available for staff, students and local community members.

"Participants value yoga for the overall benefits including greater flexibility, strength and relaxation, as well as better posture, breathing and concentration," Ms Strahm said.

The yoga classes are now serving as the platform for a collaborative research project with Dr Wendy Madsen as co-researcher and mentor. The project explores the perceptions of CQUniversity students who have attended a series of yoga classes on campus and how their yoga practice has influenced their approaches to study.

"In other words, the project explores a different avenue of addressing student retention and academic achievement," Ms Strahm said.

"Yoga is an easy, low-cost and safe preventative approach that could help decrease stress and improve general wellbeing, factors that influence academic success and retention."

Yoga instructor and CQUniversity staff member Muriel Strahm demonstrates breath work with a student. The study will also provide the foundations of further research to investigate how yoga could be used to support student retention and academic success.