Students experience the effects of yoga and gain a clear space of mind.

By Shadhana

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On Fridays, Keith Ball walks into fourth period, ready to do an activity that differs from his regular class routine. Yoga is an extension of class curriculum that Ball enjoys, especially favoring the pigeon position which helps him mentally relax.

“It’s really nice pressure and it sort of feels like a weighted blanket and a hug in the best way,” said Ball.

Co-leader of the Future Academy, Kay Zimmerman, has practiced yoga for over 23 years, and has incorporated it into the Future Academy pathway classes, Developmental Psychology of Adolescents (DPA) and Developmental Psychology of Children (DPC). Zimmerman coordinates her yoga sessions based on what she feels will be most beneficial for her students at that moment. She emphasizes that giving her students a space to meditate and de-stress emotionally and physically is critical in helping them become more self aware.

Yoga is a practice that is suitable for all people of different identities. Junior Keith Ball, member of DPC, has experienced the benefits of yoga and meditation and claims that practicing it has helped establish an activity that is compatible with his body.

“Yoga has made me a little bit stronger and it’s kind of the only physical activity I can keep focused on mentally. It also doesn’t hurt me like a lot of other physical activities do, as a disabled person, it’s right there in my wheelhouse where I can work.” Ball said.

Although yoga is popularly seen as a physical activity, it can also balance your mental and emotional state. Zimmerman explains that practicing yoga can help an individual develop a sense of self.

“It allows you to just focus on your body and your breath. It calms the mind down because you don’t have to worry about figuring this thing out or figuring that thing out. You’re just there to be with yourself. You start to get a little more quiet in yourself.” Zimmerman said.

Senior Jake Dinn expresses a similar belief of yoga giving people time for themselves and focusing on current feelings.

“It creates a sense of being alone even if you’re in a room full of people, it’s about being by yourself, being self aware about how you are feeling, and the way she guides us really helps us feel where our tension is and how we need to relax in order to calm down”, Dinn said.

Junior Kayley Tofft shares a similar view with Dinn, about yoga providing self awareness, and explains the advantages that yoga provides for her.

“[ Yoga ] makes me feel connected with myself and it makes me feel like I am able to be aware of my body and use it in ways you typically don’t…It makes me feel relaxed and calm and it brings me a sense of peace.” Tofft said.

Ball emphasizes how yoga provides a break and helps him get focused, therefore being prepared for the rest of the day.

“It [yoga] helps me get focused and if I realize that I’m really not focused that day, moving my body with deliberate breathing is the thing I’ve noticed is the biggest help because it just focuses my mind and gets my body moving. And once I’m out of it, I know that I’m allowed to have breaks and now I can work on things. It makes things simpler.” Ball said.

Senior Maile Kim expresses the physical benefits of yoga that she believes helps those who are physically active.

“Especially for athletes if you’re sore, if you do a lot of workouts and physical activity then it really helps you stretch out. It’s not only mentally healing but physically healing too.” Kim said.

Despite the situations in life you may find yourself in, Kim encourages meditation and mindfulness as a way to tackle mental unrest.

“There are gonna be times where you get overwhelmed and stressed, with the clutter in your mind, and times when you’re not ready for a certain thing, but through meditating it’s a way to calm yourself down. By calming yourself down you decide, ‘what’s the next step I need to take?’” Kim said.

Senior Shane Lim Listening to music

Junior Janet Liu Using Tiktok