Princeton University students now have another reason to hit the mat. SEAS Yoga will be offering weekly yoga classes in the Carl A. Fields Center, one of the university’s public health events. Any and all stressed-out, study-overloaded students are invited to join one of the sessions.

Nearly 20 million Americans practice yoga on a regular basis. Historically, the practice of yoga has been deeply connected with the spiritual, with the word yoga meaning “joined together.” The goal of yoga is to progress towards a state free from mental and emotional turmoil, when all elements of the body – physical, emotional, and spiritual – are joined together in unity. The earliest forms of yoga have been connected with religious sects like Shamanism and were designed to free the body of physical tension and the negative effects of stress. These principles echo the belief systems underlying religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. Although the religious aspects of yoga have been diminished for most of today’s modern-day audience, its spiritual roots remain.

In the 1980s, yoga became popular in Western society, part of a larger fitness craze that was sweeping the country. It was marketed as a new health exercise to an Americans society saturated with 80’s fitness gurus like Jane Fonda. Many people now practice yoga for health reasons and overall well-being. The health benefits of yoga are numerous, including greater flexibility, strength, and balance. In addition, yoga has been shown to reduce stress and fatigue. A study recently conducted by Ohio State University showed that women who regularly practiced yoga had lower amounts of cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) in their blood, a protein that is typically linked with aging and stress. The study found that women who practiced yoga at least three times a week had significantly reduced stress and anxiety levels. This is good news indeed for notoriously stressed out college students – and just another reason to participate in a yoga class.

Yoga is not recommended for everyone. If you have an existing condition or injury, some of the stretches can increase your risk of aggravation. These include osteoporosis, spinal problems, and pregnancy. As recommended before beginning any new fitness regime, you should consult your physician to determine if yoga fits into your individual exercise plan.

Have you practiced yoga before and have you found it beneficial to your health? Tell us in the comments!

Share This

Related Posts

Princeton Public Events: Immigrants in the Military
January 28, 2013

The Center for Migration and Development will be holding an event on “Immigrants in the Military.” The discussion will...

Princeton Public Events: “Forever Young” Benefit Concert, Sponsored by William H. Scheide
January 14, 2013

Date: January 18, 2013; 7:30-10:30pm; Tickets are $35 Location: Richardson Auditorium in Alexander Hall For the sixth...

Princeton Public Events: The Princeton Brass Ensemble Presents “A Holiday in Brass”
December 23, 2012

December 23, 2012, 2:00pm-4:00pm in the Richardson Auditorium in Alexander Hall Students still on campus on December 23rd...