How yoga helps stay focused and present during the school year
In the past, maintaining good grades in college has felt like a trade-off for sacrificing my overall health and self care. I’ve noticed that I easily let my school stress bleed into every other aspect of my life and suddenly I had no more time for relationships, exercise and self-care regimens that I promised myself I would stick to. Even when I forced myself to do these things, there was always a little voice in my head that would make me feel guilty for not using my free time to study. On the other hand, when I did spend all my free time studying, it felt like my attention was scattered. Every time I sat down to study, I couldn’t focus or seem to get anything done no matter how hard I tried. I knew that it was time for a change in my lifestyle.
My friends and I decided to participate in a free week trial for a hot yoga place on campus. I had never actually been to an authentic yoga class before, so I didn’t really know what to expect. The first time walking into the studio, I was instantly calmed by the dim lighting, warm air and soft music. My first thought was that it was so refreshing to be in a space specifically designed for relaxation. Everyone is there for themselves and nobody is there to judge or watch you—you can be however you want to be.
When we started the flow, I was impressed with how everyone was so aware of their bodies and surroundings. Honestly, I really struggled at first. Everytime my mind drifted off to other things like an exam I was stressed about, or what groceries I needed to buy, I would fall behind. I kept noticing myself missing instructions, and slipping out of the poses. It made me realize how scattered my thoughts had been and how my inability to be present is the reason I had been so stressed out.
I decided to sign up for more yoga classes, hoping that practicing yoga would help me live more in the present moment. I started going to two to three classes a week and with time, I felt like my movements became more natural and rhythmic. I had finally achieved the flow that I’d been missing out on. I was no longer stressing about school, the past or the future. My practice began to carry into other areas of my life. I started to feel more focused in lecture, more engaged in conversations with my friends and more able to appreciate the little things in life.
It also allowed me to see how little habits like loud music in my headphones and going on my phone disconnect me from reality. Now I choose to walk with no music, enjoying the calm quietness of the present moment. Lastly, I know that a yoga membership can be expensive, but yoga can be done in the comfort of your own room, in the gym, outside or wherever you feel comfortable! You can choose to build your own routine by looking up different poses online or you can follow a guided flow on YouTube.