BUILDING COLLEGE STUDENTS MENTAL HEALTH
Yoga + Meditaion
Lets take a step into a healthier body and mind! Yoga and meditation work hand in hand in creating a more stress free environment for people of any age. Both of these exercises help to increase overall health and physical fitness. It is also a simple and effective way to add physical activity into your day. Both exercise techniques help you become more aware of yourself and allow you to be in the present. They also help with stretching and strengthening your muscles at the same time. All it takes is a few minutes to an hour. Perfect for busy college students!
For more info visit American Heart Association
Benefits
Yoga Background
Yoga has been in practice by many cultures for hundreds of years. It has been used for both relaxation and full body exercise.
In todays age, it is practiced by millions of people both children and adults. Yoga helps with stability by strengthening your core and other muscles in your body. It allows for a full body stretch and release.
Not to mention, it also a great way to meet new people!
Check your Universities website to sign up for yoga and Meditation classes!
Yoga Benefits
-
Helps manage stress and depression in any age (American Heart Association, 2016)
-
improves balance and stability
-
improves heart health including body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, cholesterol and heart rate(American Heart Association, 2016)
-
relieves chronic pain
-
improves quality of life and mood in people chronic illnesses (American Heart Association, 2016)
Meditation Background
Meditation is the practice of internal concentration and awareness (Journal of The American Heart Association, 2017). This practice allows you to focus and become more aware of your own self. It makes you dive deep into your mind while also relaxing all your muscles and brain.
While doing this, it also allows you to "bring the mind back to the present moment or the object of meditation"(Journal of The American Heart Association, 2017). Meditation has many positive benefits on overall health.
Meditation Benefits
-
Helps improve cardiovascular health (Journal of The American Heart Association, 2017)
-
Endurance
-
Helps reduce and manage stress and anxiety
-
Provides more oxygen to your brain, heart and cells
-
Helps to improve physical fitness
-
Improves smoking cessation rates (Journal of The American Heart Association, 2017)
-
Can lead to improvement in exercise duration and decreased myocardial ischemia (Journal of The American Heart Association, 2017)
Beginner Yoga Poses
Learning about the benefits of yoga and meditation is the first step, but starting to incorporate it in your day to day routine can be challenging. Here are some beginner yoga poses to help guide you on the right path. Make sure to focus on your breathing through each pose!
Videos:
Childs Pose
This pose stretches out your lower back and hip muscles.
How: Kneel on your knees and lean forward with your buttocks resting on the heels of your feet. Facing down, rest your forehead on the ground. Rest arms stretched out above your head. (Mayo Clinic, 2021)