Why College Students Need Yoga

Why College Students Need Yoga

Why do college students need yoga? When anyone thinks of yoga, they immediately picture people doing headstands and breathing. Some people might think what really can you learn from it? Since I was eight years old, my mother had brought me to her yoga sessions and I have been hooked since then. Yoga is not only about learning to control your breathing or becoming more flexible (although those two things will improve), it can improve balance, decrease stress and reduce risks of heart disease. Here are the reasons college students need yoga.

Yoga Reduces Stress

Why College Students Need Yoga

One of the big reasons I think college students should do yoga is the stress management. Students are constantly stressed from all the homework, the student loan debts, to being overworked at jobs. Yoga provides an outlet to dealing with that stress instead of turning to vices like smoking or drinking. It lets your body and mind relax, clear your head and help you find solutions to problems.

Student Performance

Why College Students Need Yoga

There have been several studies showing that yoga can allow people to become a better student by enhancing focus and concentration skills. It is a way to improve self-awareness and breathing control. Just like how yoga can help you handle stress, it can help how the overall performance as a student.

Improve Your Attitude

Why College Students Need Yoga

One thing that I never fully believed when I was younger was how yoga can change your overall attitude and personality. In its own way, yoga can change the way your brain thinks. Not only can it reduce anxiety but change how the brain responds to emotions like fear and depression. Letting yoga change your attitude can change how your mindset on how you see everything else.

Yoga can be useful for all the reasons  above but one of the biggest reasons I do yoga is purely the feeling of happiness I get after a session. So if you’re struggling with concentration, depression, anxiety, poor grades, etc. during college, give yoga a try. Whether you’re taking yoga through a class at the gym or at home on a laptop, let yoga change you physically and emotionally. What do you have to lose?

4 Ways to Sleep Better Tonight

We all know life can be hectic, and sometimes your sleep is interfered with. This is bad because health problems from a lack of sleep can occur. Here are four ways to sleep better tonight.

1. Reach for the Sky Before Your Pillow- Yoga

sleep better - yoga

Yoga is often known to be relaxation technique and doing some simple poses before bed can help you fall asleep faster and sleep more soundly. Some people are not into yoga, so if that’s you some simple stretching can work just as effectively. Stretching will release some of the tension in your body and relax your muscles, perfectly preparing you for a better night’s sleep.

2. Hit the Gym Before You Hit the Sheets- Run

sleep better - run

Just like stretching and yoga, going for a long run will help release the tension in your body, as well as wear you out before bed. Running also can help clear a cloudy mind, eliminating racing thoughts before bed. Do you workout routine a couple of hours before you are ready for bed, take a shower and hit the sheets!

3. Take a Deep Breath Before You Get a Deep Sleep- Breathe

sleep better - breathe

Doing breathing techniques before bed helps you relax. Try breathing in slowly and counting to ten and then exhaling at the same rate. The time, of course, can be adjusted according to each person’s preference. Breathing is something you can do lying in bed so before you know it- you’re fast asleep.

4. Turn Off the Lights to Turn Off Your Mind- Unplug

sleep better

Watching television or playing with your phone before bed is something almost every person is guilty of. When you do this, the light makes your body stay awake and you are more aware of your surroundings.  About an hour before you would like to fall asleep, check your phone one last time and then turn it off for the night.  You will be surprised how much it helps to unplug.

These are some techniques I have found to help me sleep. Follow these and you will sleep better tonight.

Comment below with some of your tricks to fall asleep faster and sleep better!