More Than Just Yoga

By: Ava Gravina'28

Photo courtesy of Harvard Health Publishing

People often think of stay-at-home moms in their 30s as driving Range Rovers, dressing in trendy Lululemon outfits, and heading to smoothie bowls after their morning yoga session. But the truth is that yoga is for everyone – even those who never thought they were flexible, coordinated, or patient enough to do it. I discovered yoga around six months after my knee surgery. Initially, I used it as a rehabilitation tool, hoping to improve my balance, strength, and flexibility. I never imagined it would become more than just a workout, nor did I expect to learn so much about patience, resilience, and self-care. 

At first, I was frustrated. Growing up, I played sports and stayed active, so I assumed yoga would not be too hard. However, I quickly found that it was harder than it looked. Moving from one pose to the next and balancing in various positions required an insane amount of strength. For someone like me – who had little patience – yoga taught me to embrace the process. Even when I didn’t see immediate results, I had to commit to show up and set aside 10 minutes a day to practice. Each morning, I rolled out of bed, not bothering to put on a cute workout set. I then went downstairs, filled my water bottle, and rolled out my yoga mat before opening YouTube to search for my next yoga practice. I often followed Yoga with Adriene, Move With Nicole, and  Yoga With Kassandra, finding that their videos were perfect for a beginner.

Yoga offers a wide range of benefits – it improves flexibility, strength, and balance – but the benefits go beyond that. One of my favorite parts of any yoga session is the final relaxation pose, Savasana. I can feel my body release tension as I lie on my back with my arms and legs stretched out. Yoga teacher Annie Carpenter explains, “Savasana is the down-regulator. It shifts the state away from the sympathetic nervous system to the parasympathetic side, and we experience a calming, sweet release.” 

To clarify, the sympathetic nervous system activates our fight or flight response, which increases one’s heart rate and heightens alertness. In contrast, the parasympathetic nervous system helps restore balance, slowing the heart rate and promoting relaxation. This is why we feel a deep sense of calmness when we take a few moments to lie down and breathe simply.

Beyond relaxation, yoga has been shown to help reduce stress and anxiety. As public health experts Ledetra Bridges and Manoj Sharma explained in their 2017 study, “The Efficacy of Yoga as a Form of Treatment of Depression”, they examined the effects of yoga-based treatments for depressive symptoms, concluding that yoga can be considered an effective alternative treatment for major depressive disorder. Additionally, yoga can improve sleep. Studies have shown that its calming effects, combined with the physical release of tension, help prepare the body for rest, making it easier to fall and stay asleep. Yoga is more than just exercise – it nurtures both the body and the mind. From its physical benefits — enhancing strength, balance, and flexibility — to its mental benefits – reducing stress and anxiety, and improving sleep – yoga provides a deep connection with the body. If you're new to yoga, I encourage you to start small. Take just a few minutes each day to practice and see the benefits of yoga. Over time, you may find that yoga is more than just an exercise.