Yoga allows everyone to practice breathing and slowing down during a typical non-stop lifestyle, which is why it has become so popular in recent years.
The popularity of yoga participants has rapidly soared in the United States during the past decade. A survey conducted in 2016 by Yoga Alliance and Yoga Journal reported that the number of Americans practicing yoga has grown by about 16 million people up to 36 million in 2016.
Yoga has become a place of calmness in many people’s life. In our society, so many of us spend long periods of time without exercise while managing exhausting schedules at the same time.
As a result of this busy lifestyle, we neglect both our body and mind — two things yoga has always benefited. It has soared in popularity because it meets our neglected needs.
Yoga is a practice that works both the body and mind. It can be a spiritual practice for those who are inclined to want one and it fosters tolerance. However, practicing yoga does not mean converting or belonging to a specific community or religion.
In the west, people take yoga to two different levels. One level is the surface level, where people practice for the physical and mental benefits of yoga. The second level is a deeper side where yogis learn the lifestyle including spirituality, food and overall philosophies.
In fact, most Americans who do yoga do it for the physical and mental benefits that greatly benefit their overall health.
According to a 2016 Yoga in America Study, “The top five reasons for starting yoga are flexibility . . . stress relief . . . general fitness . . . improve overall health . . . and physical fitness.”
There are different kinds of yoga practices such as Bikram, Vinyasa, Hatha, Ashtanga and more — each of which focuses and prioritizes different aspects of working the mind and body.
“I do yoga because it brings immense clarity to my mind,” Dana Bowen said, a sophomore psychology major. “And it rejuvenated my body to help induce peace to my mind, body and soul.”
You do not have to be fit or physically active to do yoga — all you need to do is bring your body and a mat if you are dedicated to the practice. The KSU Recreation Center offers yoga classes available for students throughout the week.
Because of its proven benefits, yoga has improved our personal health and relationships with each other. Yoga should be on the mind of everyone who wishes to take care of their physical and mental health.
