On Wednesday, October 22nd, during access, Amador hosted the first yoga workshop of the year in the wellness center. The event offered students a calming space to de-stress from school pressure.
“Yoga is often a very, calming activity. It really requires focus. Sometimes when there’s a lot going on, [for example] for students, there’s homework, things to study for, what’s happening tomorrow, and extracurriculars. It can really be helpful to just pause, spend a few minutes to just focus on one thing, ground ourselves, and be present. That actually can help our brains to release some of the thoughts that we might be having,” said Support Counselor Jennifer Yu.
A Welcoming Space
Many curious students decided to check out the first session and find out what it involved. They were not required to bring anything other than themselves and an open mind. Yoga mats were provided by the wellness center. The safe and welcoming zone attracted newcomers and those already experienced in this field of knowledge.
“I’ve been doing yoga ever since I was a little kid because it’s a traditional aspect that’s part of my culture, … yoga is changing, not really changing my life in a super meaningful way, other than, physically. It helps me keep physically active,” says Ujali Khanna (‘29).
Something For Everyone
For some, yoga is a cultural practice spanning their entire lifetime. Although some find it hard to start, once you get into it, it can improve one’s mental and physical health. This can contribute to increased levels of confidence and a decrease in anxiety.
“I think doing yoga helped me be a lot more calm really be more self-centered. [I was able] to control my emotions a lot more and be able to find peace within the day,” said Sebastion Rodriguez (‘27).
Due to the commitment aspect, many people have found it hard to get into yoga and other mental health exercises. Nonetheless, the main purpose for wellness week is to try new things and see what works for you.
“[If you’re not sure about yoga], I would say give it a shot and if you don’t like it, you don’t like it, but if you do like it, then you found something new,” said Rodriguez.
