I’m going to be honest -- before I understood yoga, I thought it was going to be a waste of my time. I viewed it as people getting together in trendy workout clothes just to breathe in silly poses. I can happily admit now, I was wrong.
These are the ways this small lifestyle change has affected me.
Found My Breath
As a performer and a human being in general, I’ve always had problems breathing. I know that seems silly; we breathe every day to live. But, I’m the type of person who always seemed to be out of breath and nervous in general.
Talking to new people, working through confrontation and even going upstairs was extremely hard when trying to do it all with no sense of breath.
Breathing didn’t seem to be that difficult for everyone else, so why was it so hard for me? Through my 20 years of life, I swore I could never get a full intake of oxygen, which fed my anxiety and depression.
Yoga is about steadying and finding the breath within you. I came out of my first yoga session with a feeling of rebirth. I finally knew what the epitome of “zen” felt like.
Decrease In Anxiety
During the time I started practicing yoga, my life was in shambles. The new semester started, my ex-boyfriend and I were sharing a room until he could find somewhere else to live and I was handed my first lead role in a play at UWL-- needless to say, I needed something to keep me sane.
Anxiety is something I’ve had trouble dealing with and conquering in the past. There have been periods in my life in which my anxiety has caused panic attacks and nervous shakes. Dealing with performance anxiety in my theater studies has only increased my disorder.
Since starting the practice of yoga, my anxiety is just a small obstacle in my daily life. To keep my understanding of my anxiety in check, I rank it 1-10 (0 being no anxiety, 10 being the most).
Before starting a yoga routine, my anxiety rested at a daily average of a 5/10. As I am writing this article, my anxiety settles at a 1/10. I’ve never felt so “normal” in my life.
This decrease in anxiousness has been achieved through no prescription medications or counseling sessions.
Form of Exercise
I hate to admit this while going to a campus known for its active lifestyle, but I hate working out. The thought of changing into different clothes, dragging myself to the Rec Center, and forcing myself to run in place on a machine is my personal version of hell. I’ll do it so I won’t feel guilty about eating the entire Ben & Jerry’s container in one night, but trust me, I won’t enjoy it.
Yoga workouts can be just as rigorous as time on a treadmill, but I find it much more enjoyable. On my yoga mat, I feel like a flexible goddess, constantly pushing myself to perform the next pose better.
I’ve rolled up my mat in a complete sweat but feeling like I’ve just climbed Grandad’s Bluff. Not only is there a sense of pride and accomplishment after finishing your session, but you get the same endorphins flowing as you would with any other workout plan.
If you think yoga isn't a workout, try doing some of these poses:
Time for Yourself
Ultimately, my favorite thing about yoga is the way it helps you connect with yourself. A yoga class could be completely full of people, but yet, when you’re breathing deeply, closing your eyes and stretching your body into fixed positions, you feel alone.
Yoga feels like a personal date between your mind and body. It’s not only a safe space to try new stretches and poses, but it serves as a pause button from the busyness of life.
The time you spend on your yoga mat is completely yours, and it’s the world in which you don’t need to worry about spilling your coffee on a stranger, or doing poorly your midterm. With yoga, you’re encouraged to clear those thoughts out of the mind and be selfish for once in your day.
Yoga time = you time.
Not only have I learned these lessons, but I’ve also found a sense of encouragement through the yoga community, and used this form of exercise to promote positive thinking within myself. I understand yoga may not be a perfect stress-relieving outlet for everyone, but I encourage all who are interested to give it a shot. Whatever hobbies you have that take you away from the weight of the world, make sure it’s healthy, safe and creates happiness within.
