Stretching Into The New Year With Yoga

By ​Nia Walsh '20

Yoga is a wonderful way to start off or even end your day. Yoga can mean a lot to many different people. Most people don't associate a school day with yoga. Most people think of physical education as the strongest form of workout for the school day but assume that yoga can’t be added to that. But what is yoga? What is so good about it?

Introducing yoga to the school curriculum is something that would benefit many students. Yoga has scientifically been proven to lower stress levels and heart rate. Nowadays, students have a lot going on. Between studying for exams, sports, and clubs, life can get stressful. This is why yoga would help relieve stress and add a fun touch to one's day. Practicing yoga and meditation makes someone more relaxed and prepares you to conquer your day.

Yoga is also beneficial to your health. Yoga connects your body with your brain, helps your body to become more flexible and is a way to control stress and anxiety. Yoga is a wonderful way to escape from the world and relax your body with some healthy exercise. Physical education and yoga can both be included in the students' schedules. Some days a student can have yoga and other days typical physical education.

Schools across the United States have already introduced yoga into their curriculum. A website called “yogainschools.org” talks about the importance of yoga for all ages. With this class, both the students and faculty exercise to relax the body and to let out all stress that one may be building up. Scott R. Mandarino, a health teacher from Faison Academy, states, “...the Yoga in schools training not only gives more tools and techniques for the classroom but also teaches you how to care for yourself.” This quote highlights the idea that yoga trains the brain and gives it a great amount of control that can both help in the classroom and in someone's mental health.

People that have taught yoga and that have done yoga say that it changed their life for the better. Many have said that it helps relieve everyday stress from work, school and life in general. Yoga lets out negative energy and brings in positive energy, puts you in a better state of mind and gets a good exercise in that will benefit you mentally and physically. The idea of having yoga in your everyday life can truly benefit anyone.

Ultimately yoga is a fun and healthy way to relieve stress and keep people active. There has been positive feedback from schools that have tried it. Students would definitely benefit from having yoga in a regular school day since it would help take the weight off most students’ busy days. Maybe Fontbonne should try it out!