Yoga

Week one of trying new things and I felt like a kid in a candy store! It seemed as if there were so many possibilities that I hardly knew where to start. How, then, to choose? Between the amount of work piling up and the glum mood on campus, one activity looked particularly enticing: Yoga.

For those of you who, like me, are unfamiliar to the discipline, yoga has been practiced for more than 5,000 years, originating in India. The word ‘yoga’ comes from the Sanskrit word ‘Yuj’ meaning to join or to unite, which, bringing mind and body together, is the goal of yoga through breathing, meditation and stretches¹. While the breathing and meditation of yoga help the individual focus, the stretches work to release lactic acid that builds up with the muscle, which causes stiffness, tension and even pain². This being said, I was all for trying this new activity!

Finding a scheduled class at the White Building, I grabbed my water bottle and donned my yoga pants, happy I would finally be wearing them to their intended occasion.  Upon the advice of another, I arrived to class half an hour in advance. It was a good thing I did so too—there was already a line! Yoga was clearly a popular class, but why?

Sitting in line, the novelty of what I was about to do hit me. For instance, what if, while stretching, I got stuck in some crazy position? Despite a few apprehensions, I was generally excited about trying this popular activity. I had always heard about how relaxing yoga could be, and now I was finally going to try it!

Just being in the yoga classroom was a relaxing experience! The lights were dimmed and soothing piano music drifted around us.  After we all got situated on our mats we began with a few simple stretches, focusing on breathing and keeping our minds closed to all else going on in our lives. At first, being cardio junkie, I was bored with the slow pace of the regimented breathing and exercises. This feeling, however, did not last long.

The stretches became more strenuous, and I started to sweat! One minute we were downward-facing dogs and then the next upward-facing dogs, followed by cranes and eagles. I had no idea yoga included the names of so many animals, or that the stretches themselves could be so tricky. And despite how, rather than solely flexibility, yoga involved strength, over the course of the class I began to feel more supple and relaxed. 

Leaving the class I felt relaxed and pleased that I had finally tried a yoga class. I not only feel that I have a better understanding what it is, but I also want to try it again in the future. Overall I felt this experience was a success! Hooray! Or, as the case may be, namaste!

            

¹ http://www.medindia.net/yoga-lifestyle/yoga-orgin.htm

² http://www.webmd.com/balance/the-health-benefits-of-yoga