When I tell people that I practise yoga, most assume it must be for one of two reasons: either I want to be flexible or because I’m into some sort of new age self-spirituality type stuff.
In reality, like many others across the world, I practice yoga for a multitude of reasons, and I believe that it is one of the most beneficial activities that a university student can do.
So, as we all settle in to the second semester, here are ten reasons why all uni students should practice yoga.
1.You can customise it to fit your goals.
Whilst most practices involve some form of stretching, it is a misconception that yoga exists only to increase flexibility.
Maybe you want to build strength by focusing on core-based practices, maybe you want to work on your focus through balancing postures, or maybe you want to challenge your breath through faster flowing practices.
Whatever you have in mind, you can customise your practice to best suit your personal goals.
2.It helps in regulating your emotions.
Being emotional and stressed is pretty much a given of being a student. Whether it’s university work, being away from home, or the flatmate who really shouldn’t have been released into the real world, it can be hard to stay calm and collected.
Yoga allows you to take a break from a constantly busy mind. Even if it’s just for 20 minutes, breaking out of your thoughts for a bit helps you return to these situations with a refreshed outlook.
3.It helps you separate time for productivity and time for relaxing.
Getting into a routine of practicing yoga either before or after studying can be a helpful way of signalling to your brain to either get in focus mode or start winding down. Having this clear boundary between studying and relaxing can help you avoid procrastination or prevent feelings of productivity guilt.
4.It gives you time away from your phone.
Being away from your phone and alone with yourself for even just a small amount of time can have positive impacts. Nothing bad is going to happen if you don’t look at your notifications for just 20 minutes, but it can help relieve the pressure a lot of university students face in feeling like you need to be constantly social and contactable.
5.Yoga requires no special equipment.
Anyone can start practicing yoga at any time, just pull up a YouTube video and stick on some comfy clothes and you’re off!
You may think that you need a yoga mat, but a towel or blanket is a great substitute, or you could even do some poses from the comfort of bed. Speaking of bed, you can even do yoga in your pyjamas if you want to!
It doesn’t matter if you haven’t exercised since secondary school P.E., yoga is about finding what works for you.
6.You feel a sense of accomplishment.
Even after completing your first practice, you feel like you have achieved something by taking time to work on yourself. Then, as your practice becomes more regular, it’s satisfying to see improvements in your ability to do certain poses and vinyasas (movements between poses).
I remember feeling so proud the first time I managed to hold crow pose for more than a split second, and it’s these little wins that motivate you to keep building on your abilities.
7.There are thousands of classes available online.
Simply search ‘yoga’ on YouTube and you will be presented with seemingly endless options, all focusing on different skills and of varying lengths, meaning you will always be able to find a practice to suit your mood and time constraints.
My personal recommendation for yoga videos is ‘Yoga with Adriene’ on YouTube. Adriene is welcoming and inclusive, and her videos are well explained and nicely paced for any level, from beginner to pro.
8.It can be a social experience.
Whilst there are many advantages to practising yoga alone, there are also benefits to doing yoga in a group environment.
It can be hard to get past the initial self-consciousness of doing the poses around others but, once you do, you may find that participating in a yoga class helps you push yourself farther than you might at home and your yoga instructor will be able to offer insights to help you deepen your practice.
If you are a BU student, you can participate in SUBU-organised yoga classes for free every other week at Bournemouth Gateway Building, and if you live in halls that include ResLife, there is also a yoga club on Wednesdays at Lyme Regis.
9.Yoga doesn’t have to be spiritual.
As mentioned at the beginning of this article, yoga’s roots in Hinduism lead a lot of people associate it with spirituality, meditation, and so on.
However, many people, including myself, practice yoga purely for the physical benefits and you can still get so much out of it without engaging in any of the mantras or new age elements.
10.It works well in conjunction with other forms of exercise.
Adding yoga to your exercise regime is a good way of caring for your muscles and preventing injuries.
For example, if you play a sport, yoga can be helpful in teaching you new ways of stretching the muscles you use most or working out aches and pains, ensuring that you can perform to the best of your ability in your sporting activities.
I hope this article has inspired you to take just 20 minutes here and there to try a bit of yoga. Sometimes it takes a while to find the style that you like best but, when you do, you’ll be hooked, and your brain and body will thank you for it.