Holistic Health: Restorative Yoga

In our whirlwind lives, yoga can help us slow down and stay grounded

Life is stressful. In our ever-changing world, our minds can get caught up in the darker parts of humanity. Although we may rely on others to help us through hard times, we may not think about how we can support ourselves. As college students especially, we need ways to take a step back from the chaos and uncertainty to focus on ourselves. Something that I found helps is practicing yoga. Before you object to such a practice, here me out.

Yoga originated over 5000 years ago in northern India. Although an ancient practice, yoga has spread worldwide and is used to help improve mental and physical health. Even though yoga is based on Hinduism and Buddhism, it can be practiced separately from religion as a form of meditation and movement.

There are numerous benefits to yoga. For one thing, the physical benefits are undeniable. Yoga is shown to improve strength, balance, and flexibility. Slow movements and deep breathing increase blood flow, while holding poses helps improve strength. Although the physical benefits are there, it is important to be careful while practicing yoga as it is a physical activity. Overexerting yourself can lead to injury. To benefit from yoga, it is best to not push yourself. Practice safely. If you find yourself hurting from your practice, it is best to look at other options that work for you. People with hyper-mobility are most at risk of injury from yoga. The benefits will be much more positive if you practice yoga safely and smartly.

Yoga benefits mental health as well. Studies have found beneficial effects of yoga on measures of perceived stress in adults. As this shows, yoga helps with stress relief. If practiced regularly, it is proven to help reduce anxiety and burnout as well as improve sleep and self-esteem. Rather than using only pharmaceutical medication to help deal with anxiety or depression, yoga can keep us grounded through deep breathing practices and movement. Because of this, yoga can be a good aid alongside other treatments. 

In a world where we spend most days sitting at a desk at work, it can be hard to find time to move. Coupled with this is the fact our mental health worsens when we don’t move. Yoga is a simple yet rewarding way to move and take some time to focus on ourselves. In the next issue, I plan to discuss the modern food industry and how we can be more aware when it comes to eating healthy.