Destressify by Haile

Destressify by Haile - September 2019 Scholarship Essay

My passion for yoga began in an added extracurricular class in high school. In that class, I became a full yogini. I was immersed in a new sense of relaxation and tranquility, something that’s rarely found in the high school environment. I believe yoga classes should be taught on a regular basis because of its ability to calm the mind from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Students are bombarded with assignments, essays, and studies. Not to mention all the extracurricular activities that are required of them. Of course, as a student, a common problem that can’t be avoided is feeling stress. Studies have shown that yoga may help reduce stress and anxiety. It can also enhance your mood and overall sense of well-being. As my yoga teacher says “Lets destressify”. Also, commonly yoga helps you find and set goals, whether it is to maintain your health, get back to your ideal body shape, or to let go of overpowering anxiety. The silver lining is, you need to have a strong commitment and maximum effort in order to achieve these goals. This perseverance can help you to tackle every problem that you will face in school or life. As a student, there is no doubt that you have a lot of pressure to carry with you. You need to do a lot of homework with a tight deadline, preparing for various exams, or the pressure of getting good grades in order to not disappoint your parents. Those things would trigger various symptoms of depression and if you can’t handle it, it would be very dangerous for your health. Therefore, doing yoga on a regular basis would alleviate all the pressures because it will release the ‘feel-good’ chemicals in your body called endorphins. As a result, you will have a fresh mind and become ready to tackle every challenge in your study. One of the greatest benefits that students will get from doing yoga is effortless sleep. Certain yoga tricks, namely Savasana, would teach your body how to relax and cool down after a very hard work out. In addition to that, you will also learn how to breathe properly so that your body is able to relax. Better quality in sleep means that you will get a fresh start on the next school day. Overall, my favorite takeaway from yoga are the friends I have cultivated over the years. My confidence and strength, as a student, have shot through the roof. As a full-time student, I am so grateful to yoga for the gifts it has given me through my studies. I have become a strong, powerful force, ready for anything the school system throws at me. Thank you, yoga! May you make it to the school system full time.