During this long and grueling semester, I was absolutely desperate to find something to keep my peace and calm my nerves during this time. Luckily for me, a power yoga class caught my eye while at Temple’s student gym, and I decided to give it a try.
It’s been two months and I LOVE it.
Yoga has been a great stress reliever for me over the years, attending classes as young as 12 years-old to find my inner ‘namaste’. If you’re new to yoga, it is a series of stretches and poses that focus on breath, balance, and flexibility, that many use as a form of meditation or relaxation. With that being said, you can see why this could be great for a busy college student like me.
Every Friday at 12pm, my yoga class is what I look forward to. I don’t have any classes on Fridays, so I love that it motivates me to make use of my day instead of rotting in my bed, avoiding homework or being counterproductive. Even the simple act of getting showered, dressed, and packing a bag before class makes such a big difference in positively starting my day that might’ve otherwise been spent in my room.
I usually arrive to class around 15 minutes prior, waiting for the instructor to arrive. I grab my mat and yoga block provided by the gym, and choose a spot where I can comfortably see the instructor.
Just like any class, the yoga instructor starts with a warm-up, getting our breath and our bodies ready for some more strenuous poses. After some rounds of cat and cows, downward dogs, and sun salutations, she gets us into some more challenging poses.
A highlight of this class is the amazing instructor, Claire. Her voice is calm and soothing, she creates a great flow and good vibes with her playlist, and is extremely knowledgeable of yoga, regularly including accurate pose terminology throughout the class.
As we go through the flow of the class, I focus on my deep breaths and challenging my flexibility. This really helps me immerse myself into the class and out of my racing, anxious thoughts. Focusing on Warrior II and Garudasana feels so much better than focusing on APA citations and a thesis.
Even though the class is only 50 minutes, it is truly 50 minutes of peace and mental reset. After a busy week, this class allows me to feel grounded and confident in taking on what life throws at me.
After class, I continue taking care of myself, buying an iced coffee and a bagel, sitting somewhere on campus, listening to a podcast, or doing a silent study. I would recommend everyone at Temple to at least give this class a try—you won’t regret the brain break.
In the meantime, namaste!