There is no denying that college can be a stressful time full of uncertainty, busy schedules and a whole new way of living. On top of all of this, class work can pile up, leaving your brain buzzing with confusion, anxiety and defeat.
Thankfully, there is a way to combat all of these stressors by stretching your mind to find your zen…yoga!
As busy students, my friends and I constantly search for ways to ease our stress. We tried doom scrolling in the park — which was no help. We tried decorating daily planners, but were still left feeling stressed, though the craft was fun. We even tried a mall shopping spree, which relieved our anxiety temporarily, until the realization hit that all of our money was gone.
I almost gave up hope until I was bored one day during winter break and saw a YouTube ad of a woman doing yoga on a beach. It looked relaxing, so I decided to buy a mat, with what little money I had left, and give it a try. Woohoo!
As the queen of random hobbies, I decided that if yoga did nothing for my stress, it would at least be a fun new social event to add to my calendar with my friends and a way to stay active. However, it soon became much more.
Through yoga, I was finally able to find a freeing sense of calm. Each breath, move and stretch released the tension in my body bit-by-bit. Slowly, the burden of school and work melted away. My mind was left in a true place of peace. I began to see how these small movements and breathing techniques could cleanse my mind. I fell in love with yoga! Through this realization, I decided every college student should give yoga a try.
Why? Well, obviously the cute workout sets are a perk, but yoga is so much more than just a way to work out.
1. Yoga is for everyone. I have found yoga to be quite an accessible activity. You can do anything, from simple breathing exercises to improve heart rate and circulation to intense workouts like Vinyasa or Power Yoga, that leave you super sweaty (bring a towel)! Whether you are a beginner or someone who is experienced, there is a level of yoga for everyone!
The best part is that yoga fits the needs of everyone and can be modified because of its accessible nature! Through its low-impact moves and poses, yoga can be easily modified to accommodate different injuries or areas of weakness, such as a broken bone or limited flexibility. Poses can be changed through the use of blocks, the range of motion can be reduced and poses can be practiced lying down to prevent putting pressure on an injured area.
Yoga allows you to stay active in a low-risk way.
2. Yoga is for every lifestyle. College dorms can be small, and space can often be an issue. The great thing about yoga is that space is not a requirement. In fact, you can even do yoga while sitting in your chair! Seated stretches, breathing exercises and meditation can all be done using only a chair. Seated exercises place less pressure on your joints while still improving core strength, balance and breathing.
Whether you choose to practice yoga in your dorm or not, yoga is perfect for both the introvert and the extrovert. Yoga can be a quiet practice that allows time for independent reflection and relaxation. On the flip side, yoga can also be a social activity. If you are a people person, you can join yoga groups or sign up for classes with friends.
Everyone can find their zen while doing yoga at their own comfort level and in their own space!
3. Yoga is affordable. Unlike other workouts, with yoga, you do not need to invest in expensive equipment to enjoy the benefits. A yoga mat can be swapped out for a towel, and weights can be replaced by water bottles or a book. These substitutions get you the same results for relatively low or no cost.
Additionally, while you can pay money for yoga classes, you can also practice yoga for free. Instead of an in-person yoga class, you can watch YouTube yoga sessions from some of my personal favorites: Yoga with Adriene, Move With Nicole and SarahBethYoga. Memorize stretches you like, write them down in your notes app, and you are ready to go!
We love free things that are good for our health!
4. Yoga is good for your mental health. If I still have not convinced you that yoga is for you, perhaps fancy, knowledgeable scientists can. Researchers from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences and the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi conducted a review on the body’s biological response — heart rate, brain activity, muscle activity and breathing — to yoga practices. Their findings show that “Meditation practice results in an increase in frontal electrical coherence, which represents gains in frontal integration, flexibility in cognition, intelligence, and emotional stability.”
Yoga practices, like meditation, may increase coordination between areas of the brain that manage emotional regulation. In short, yoga practices help us eliminate anxiety, increase stress tolerance and leave each of us with a healthier brain!
Yoga is an accessible and affordable tool that can be tailored to meet anyone’s needs, goals and desires to decrease stress levels, especially in college. So grab a mat, a towel, a friend or even your pet to practice some mindful meditation through yoga and say goodbye to stress!