I’ve recently had my first taste of GCSE life through devising, and it was one of the more stressful periods of my life (those who have taken drama GCSE – or any kind of exam – can probably relate). And whilst I, like most people, have ways of coping with stress, I have found it a lot harder to switch off from my worrying and find time to relax recently. This led me onto a few different techniques of mental relaxation and meditation – most recently, yoga.
Yoga’s origins can be traced to northern India over 5,000 years ago, though some researchers argue the practice could be almost 10,000 years old. It is, essentially, a spiritual discipline which focuses on brining harmony between body and mind, allowing the practitioner to reach a state of self-realisation and liberation. It is the art and the science of healthy and contented living. The practice of yoga is present in Indus valley civilization; Buddhist and Jain traditions; Darshanas; epics of Mahabharata and Ramayana; theistic traditions of Shaivas; and Tantric traditions. Evidence such as seals allows historians to trace its roots, and work out how the practice spread throughout the East. The introduction of Yoga to the West is often credited to Swami Vivekananda, who, after arriving in the USA in 1883, translated Yogic texts from Sanskrit to English, and held conferences around the world dedicated to educating people about yoga. Shri Yogendra, an India yoga guru, author, poet and researcher, founded the Yoga Institute in 1918 – making it the oldest officially recognized yoga institute in the world – and travelled to the USA in 1919 to work with healthcare professionals, seeking scientific evidence for the health benefits of yoga. He began to ‘domesticate’ Hatha yoga, and is often thought of as the Father of the Modern Yoga Renaissance.
One of the main reasons yoga was, and still is, so popular, is the physical benefits. Several studies have found that yoga can improve cardiovascular fitness, flexibility, balance, and – according to a medical study conducted at Harvard – overall quality of life. Pain specialists recommend that doctors begin telling patients to do yoga for lower back pain. It can alleviate arthritis pain, fight osteoporosis, increase blood vessel flexibility, and some studies claim that it can help your immune system by raising levels of disease-fighting antioxidants. It also improves your posture and the strength of your joints, and lowers blood pressure due to its relaxing nature. It’s taught throughout schools in the UK as an activity in PE (including ours), and has remained popular since its introduction.
Furthermore, yoga is excellent for your mental health, due to the focus on uniting mind and body to achieve self-realisation, which is a calming and reflective process. It has been proven to alleviate anxiety and stress – which is why I tried it in the first place – as well as increase energy levels, meaning you walk away from your practice feeling rejuvenated. The meditation element allows your mind to shut off, giving you space for relaxation, as well as helping to delay age-related declines in memory. It’s a powerful mindful practice that encourages you to make healthier lifestyle choices, and studies have proven that it has a positive impact on your mental health.
People are, understandably, drawn to yoga. Chances are, if you know someone who practises it regularly, they will tell you quite a bit about how wonderful it is, and how you should give it a go. But the thing is- you really should. There are classes, tutorials, clubs, livestreams; you can do short, fifteen minute practices before bed each night, or you can do hour long sessions in the afternoons; you can do it alone, or with people, or both. You can start at any level, and I can honestly say that I felt better after trying it for the first time. Why not give it a go?
