For more than 5,000 years, people have been practicing yoga.
This style of exercise has been around for a long time, and rightfully so. Yoga has withstood the test of time because it helps those who practice it in many ways. Yogis often see benefits physically, mentally and emotionally.
Almost anyone can benefit from this form of physical activity, but certain groups of people may gain more from it than others. Here are six reasons why college students should give yoga a try.
1. Alleviate Stress
One of the most important benefits people experience from yoga is stress reduction. Long hours spent sitting in lecture halls or hunched over a laptop can only exacerbate already high levels of stress from quizzes, tests and homework. Even subtle pressures from family members, relationships and stretched finances can take their toll on otherwise young, fit people.
Yoga can help lessen the effects of stress on the body, which in turn can help you perform at a higher level academically. The International Journal of Yoga published a study in 2009 that looked at how yoga affects the academic performance of stressed out students.
The researchers discovered that within seven weeks of regular practice doing poses, breathing and meditation, students enjoyed significantly reduced stress levels. As a result, their academic performance increased.
2. Improved Body Image
Poor body image is a common problem among youth. Yoga can improve your kinesthetic awareness—or your sense of how your body moves. This can help you be more fluid in your movement and confident in your body.
3. Reduced Conflict
Believe it or not, yoga may actually help you get along better with others. Because you're less stressed and more confident, you can enjoy greater clarity of mind, and this can bring you a sense of peace.
Yoga can also teach you to have better control of your emotions while allowing you to respect the emotions of others. All of this enhances your ability to deal with people and the conflicts that inevitably arise.