Yoga: Yay or Nay?

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I’ve always been afraid to try yoga. I would tell myself, “I’m not flexible enough to do it,” or “I just know I won’t be able to relax.” Trying something new, especially when it involves fitness, can be scary. You feel like everyone’s eyes are on you, watching you mess up and laughing at you for even trying. To overcome this feeling, I pushed myself to take a meditation and flow yoga class for the first time. Here are my thoughts on the class and my opinions on yoga in general.

Yoga can Help Clear your Mind, but it’s Okay if it Doesn’t

Going into this class, I was focused on trying to clear my mind, relax and go with the flow. Once I got into the class, however, I found it difficult to switch my mind off. I felt like I had failed at getting the most out of this experience.

However, Sophia Anderson, a junior economics major, reminded me that learning something new is a process.

“Being able to turn your mind off is just as important as learning the yoga poses, but nobody thinks about that,” Anderson said. “Everyone who does yoga struggles with that part of the experience, especially in the beginning.”

Yoga is Physically Challenging

When most people think of a “good workout,” they imagine lifting weights or running on a treadmill, sweat dripping off their foreheads. This class showed me that yoga can be relaxing while also physically demanding. Stretching your body and moving it in ways you’re not used to leaves you with the same feeling a weight-lifting session would: sore, tired and in need of a nap.

Senior Kayla Tardy, an English major, turned to yoga after injuring herself while lifting weights.

“I still leave with the same feeling, but instead of feeling tight my body feels stretched,” Tardy said. “It’s been a really good change for me personally.”

Yoga is Welcoming to all Skill Levels

Whether you’re a new yogi or a pro, this class, and yoga as a whole, creates a non-judgmental space of everyone. Before the class, I felt nervous and out of place, but once we started moving and meditating those worries disappeared. Everyone was focused on their own workout and not on me, which was a welcomed change.

Instructor Grace Deleon, a senior community health major, has practiced yoga since she was 7 years old, but still welcomes students of all skill levels and abilities in her classes.

“Yoga has been such an important part of my life for so long,” Deleon said. “I want anyone with an interest in yoga to feel like they can come in and learn.”

Overall, the class wasn’t for me, but the experience changed the way I view yoga. While I might not become a full-fledged yogi, I may stop in for a class when I need a way to destress.