Yoga Is Everywhere

Photo supplied by Claudia Hedrick’s home yoga studio, Altamonte Springs Yoga.

We get it—college life is busy. Elon students especially have many extracurriculars on their plate in addition to coursework and a social life. When was the last time you took just 20 minutes to focus on yourself rather than scrolling through your Instagram feed?

Some people might think yoga is solely a physical activity, however, it provides internal growth for many. Yoga slows breathing and the mind, reduces stress, helps with flexibility and spiritually centers you. Who needs this more than a college student?

For four years, Elon junior Claudia Hedrick has been practicing yoga at her home studio in Winter Park, Florida, and in her Elon apartment. If she can’t attend a studio class, Hedrick makes sure to do at least 20 minutes of yoga a day because it has become such a big part of her life. Not only has yoga increased her flexibility and allowed her to build strength, but it has also helped her mental health, as going too long without it means higher stress levels.  

Photo supplied by Altamonte Springs Yoga’s Instagram account, @altamontespringsyoga.

Describing yoga, Hedrick said, “It’s a lot more than a workout. It fully incorporates meditation and makes it more of a mind and body experience. My teachers at my studio at home are very spiritual and often talk about things like past lives, numerology (a system of the basic elements of numbers that guide our understanding of the world and ourselves) and chakras (various wheels of energy throughout the body), which is actually what kept me going and made me want to make it a routine.”  

Hedrick also noted that yoga studios are special communities that create and empower every individual to fulfill his or her own unique practice, which is part of the beauty of it. Yoga is an activity that you can do throughout your entire life and continuously progress with. There is always room for improvement, and the practice provides opportunities to challenge yourself, allowing you to grow as both a yogi and a person.   

“I would highly recommend yoga to everyone,” she said. “I think a huge misconception about yoga is that you need to be flexible, but it’s an individual practice and you can’t compare yourself to anyone else in the studio. Nobody is judging you at all, and you should really try to make it as much of an introspective practice as possible. I think everyone should try to incorporate some yoga into their lives because it helps relax the mind. It brings awareness to the breath and teaches you how to sit with uncomfortable things and how to be comfortable while uncomfortable.” 

So, what are you waiting for?