Compiled with schoolwork, sports and extracurriculars, my overloaded schedule has always kept me on the run, so when I have a moment to myself, I meditate. Having a stressful lifestyle has deprived me of the adequate amount of relaxation, sleep and even exercise that is needed to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and anyone else who juggles multiple responsibilities and activities can relate. In my experience of attempting to discover a remedy for stress and all of the side effects it prolongs, the most effective and beneficial solution is the simple practices of yoga.

I’ve tried almost everything when it comes to dealing with stress. As much as I admire my Buddha Board and zen garden, these materialistically calming options remain short-term. In terms of finding something worthwhile, yoga is optimal. The only thing it requires is yourself, and maybe some yoga pants if you’re feeling up to it. Yoga consists of breath control, simple meditation and bodily poses and stretches, all of which can be practiced at any place, at any time.

Yoga was first practiced by the Indus-Saraswati civilization in Northern India over 5,000 years ago (Yoga Basics). After spreading to eastern Asia, the Middle East, Northern Africa and South America, yoga intertwined with culture, tradition and religion in different parts of the world. In ancient periods, yoga was used by Hindus, Buddhists and Jains during spiritual practices to reach enlightenment, understand suffering and uplift consciousness. Since then, yoga has become more widespread and a part of Western culture, while obtaining more uses, including exercise and stress relief.

People are often hesitant to do yoga because they believe you have to be experienced, flexible, young or skinny, but that’s not that case. Yoga can be practiced in many forms, cognitive or physical. Whether it’s breathing techniques, meditating or actively stretching and positioning, anyone is able to do yoga. All it takes is an open mind. Yoga is also assumed to be strictly religious, but only you have the power to choose your beliefs, yoga does not push religion onto anyone. Yoga simply influences concentration and tranquility.

After practicing yoga every day in the summer, I try to incorporate yoga into my life as regularly as possible throughout the school year, when it’s needed most. I’ve found that I have significantly more energy and more motivation throughout the day when I’m regularly doing yoga. Through breathing, meditation and workout yoga, my positive attitude increases and fitness levels are at their best ability. For both physical and health benefits, it’s amazing what one deep inhale and exhale can do. As you take that slow, deep inhale, your parasympathetic nervous system is immediately activated. Feeling calm, your blood flow is increasing and your heart rate is falling, just as regions in the brain become activated and the fear-response region diminishes. According to the journal Cognition and Emotion, manipulating the breath creates a change in feelings of anger, fear, joy and sadness up to 40 percent, evoking emotional stability. Breathing control remains the essential foundation of both yoga poses and meditation. It’s been shown to result in better breathing stamina and is linked to reducing the chances of receiving deadly diseases like Alzheimer’s, depression, heart disease and possibly cancer.

A study at the University of Pavia, Italy, a study compared two groups before attempting to climb Mount Everest. After both groups made it to the peak, the group that practiced breathing prior to the climb didn’t need any supplemental oxygen, however the group that didn’t practice breathing were found to have used surface area of their lungs. This shows that breathing routines have not only mindful and emotional impacts, but also physical. Yoga can go from balancing aerobics to intense body toning. Not only does it increase flexibility, but yoga strengthens your core and other physically demanded muscles. Breathing practices of yoga alone have vital impacts, but they’re typically incorporated into posing and movements of yoga. With breathing used in stretching, the whole body is engaged. Everything is focused into the motions, as calm sensations can travel within your entire self.

Stress has many consequential health risks and is linked to heart disease, asthma, diabetes, depression, gastrointestinal problems, premature death and Alzheimer’s disease (Medical Daily). We’ve all been there. Stress is not always easy to to reduce and overcome. However, with yoga, you are devoting your entire concentration on clearing your conscious of any harmful thoughts. It’s an all natural cure. From downward facing dog to the half moon pose, yoga triggers positive, powerful vibrations, engaging your whole self. Namaste.