By Aria Zarnoski

Yoga Instructor

Education Major

At some point in your life, there is a great possibility that you have been asked the question, “Do you do yoga?” When you hear this question, your mind immediately travels to the inside of a hot, sticky studio where you meet a crazy, dreadlocked yogi sitting in full lotus, chanting “Om.” You find yourself in the middle of the class trying to do the same, but you’re met with the nearly impossible task of trying to think about nothing. You find yourself thinking about all of the Technicolor combinations of yoga pants in the room, rather than the crazy entanglement of your mind. How can one think about nothing?

After your little daydream, you are brought back to think of the first question and say, “I’ve done it once or twice.” With an answer like that, you may have come to the conclusion that yoga is not your thing; however, you are now challenged to find out that it can be. Being an ancient art form that has been around for thousands of years, how can one argue with such a substantial history of happiness and wellness? Put your judgments and predispositions aside, and read on. There are many styles of yoga and there is one for you. It is important for every aspect of your being to try something new.

The word “yoga,” comes from the Sanskrit word “yoke,” which means, “to join.” For some, yoga is a spiritual journey that allows us to focus on ourselves. For most yogis, however, yoga is a way to connect us to the universe, a way to ignite our own body, mind, and spirit; and in turn, ignite that of the universal consciousness. Albert Einstein once said, “A person experiences life as something separated from the rest- a kind of optical delusion of consciousness. Our task must be to free ourselves from the self-imposed prison, and through compassion, to find the reality of oneness.”

There are many benefits of yoga that go beyond the ambiguous idea that yoga is healthy for the body, mind, and spirit. In order to find the answer to, “How will I benefit from yoga?,” one must first ask the question, “What do I wish to gain from my practice?” This is the most important question, and your answer is what should be the focus of your practice. This is your intention.

Everyone’s intention is different, as well as how seriously one takes his or her intention into account. Although yoga can be seriously spiritual, it is a good idea to start out just for pure enjoyment. If you don’t have fun with your practice, you are not going to want to do it more than once a week, let alone everyday. It is important to take yourself seriously, but, it is arguably more important to have fun!

Yoga has many physical benefits. It allows the body to become more flexible. It helps with breathing, sleep, back pain, neck pain, and blood circulation. Yoga builds muscles and can help better your bone health. Not only does yoga help to physically relax your body, it also helps you calm your mind, in turn, making you less stressed and overall happier. According to a study conducted by the Anxiety and Depressed Association of America in 2008, 80 percent of college students state that they are either frequently stressed out, or even worse, experience stress daily, while 34 percent say that they have felt depressed at some point in the last three months. If yoga can help relieve these feelings, why not do it? Yoga can also help maintain focus. Sounds pretty good for when exam week rolls around. Mentally, yoga can give you the peace of mind that can help boost your self-esteem and build your awareness for transformation. The list goes on and on, what are you going to do about it?

(If you have any questions or comments, feel free to email me at ariagzarnoski@smccme.edu)