Want to try yoga? Yo-ganna love this

Yoga has been attracting those from all backgrounds, creeds, and ages for centuries and lately, it has been attracting teens. Students gravitate to these places in hopes to reap the benefits advertised. Yoga can be used to alleviate stress, exercise, heal, or as a way of life.

I am a zealot for yoga, after practicing for about five years. I would say it’s one of the most important components in my life. Many people have a misconception of the practice. It is too often seen as simply something you do to get a workout.  Yoga has the unique ability to combine mind and body like nothing else. I almost always separate the two. I go to school, with my brain totally- okay, usually- engaged. Then I head off to practice, to work out my body. Yoga is where my separate lives come together. Needless to say, it gives me a sense of completeness.

Some students turn to yoga for other reasons. Senior Avery Dennison says he likes it to restore balance. Freshman Emma Cousler explains, “I like yoga because it relaxes me and distracts me from other things going on in the day.” Even though yoga is helpful to obtain peace, it can also be used as a workout. For example, Emma says, “I like a mix of high intensity and easy poses. I like doing headstands… but also when you just lay down for Savasana (a pose used at the end of class to decompress and meditate). It just depends on my mood.”

But, Gracie, you can’t be serious! I surely am not able to practice yoga. I’m not flexible or fit enough! I don’t think I fit in well with the yoga crowd! No men do yoga!

My response is simple. Yoga offers limitless possibilities. You can tailor your practice to fit you; you don’t have to be super thin and bend into pretzels. My grandmother just started yoga, and loves it. Also, most of my power yoga classes are half men.

There are different branches of yoga. The four main branches are often considered Hatha, Jnana, Karma, and Bhakti. Many high schoolers practice Hatha yoga, which is the most well-known in Western culture. This is because it’s offered in many basic gym classes, and is great for beginners. If you’re interested in starting your practice, Hatha yoga may be an appropriate path for you. If you’re more interested in meditation, rather than physical poses or asanas, there are other styles to try. Jnana yoga focuses as lot on yoga philosophy, which includes studying various Sanskirt texts. This path attracts those drawn to intellectual hobbies. Karma yoga focuses on selflessness and charity. Mother Teresa and Mahatama Gandhi are embodiments of this style. It attracts those who want to help others through their yogi pursuits. Lastly, Bhatki yoga involves a lot of changing and ritual. This is a perfect match for those who enjoy routine and ceremony.

Yoga is also not just something you practice during the day, and then forget about. It’s also a way of life. Yoga means to do everything in your life with grace. It means to be compassionate. It means to harvest positivity, and achieve contentment. This very intenseness may thwart some from jumping into the practice. Have no fear! Yoga doesn’t have to consume your entire life. It’s perfectly fine to attend classes and life your life separately. But, if you really begin to love yoga, the possibilities are endless. You can expand your knowledge by traveling to ashrams, a place to study yoga. If you’re into the Jhana style of yoga, perhaps you would rather read books about the practice and learn yourself. My favorites are 1,000 Pearls of Yoga Wisdom by Liz Lark, The Yoga of the Yogi by Kausthub Desikachar, and Breathe, Yoga for Teens by Mary Kaye Chryssicas. All of these are great beginner books, which will jumpstart your unique yogi journey!

You can also, of course, be taught by a professional. Plenty of places in the area offer classes. The Bel Air Athletic Club, Peace Yoga, and individual instructors offer different needs for different students. If you don’t have the resources to go to yoga class, that’s okay too. Although I have attended many classes since I began my practice, I am primarily self-taught. When I started, I couldn’t even touch my feet. Now, I can impress everyone with my complex asanas, like Elephant, Peacock, Bird of Paradise, and on my way to Scorpion. All you need is a computer and determination. Then, you too can execute all the poses you only dreamt of!