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The thought of twisting your arms together and wrapping your legs around each other while squatting for 10 seconds may seem like a difficult and meaningless task. But to students who do yoga, this act is just one of many techniques used to improve concentration and enhance meditation.
“Yoga is a way to find what exactly you are and what you’re made of,” said senior Anne Bianchi. “You realize exactly what your body can do, and this helps you find inner peace.”
There are different kinds of yoga designed to perform different duties, such as relaxing, stretching or exercising. At the end of each yoga session, there is a relaxing period to help each person meditate.
“After doing all the exercises you become more aware of your body,” said junior Josie Parsons. “After yoga everything is crisp and fresh.”
Every individual can use yoga differently. For some, it may just be a form of exercising or a way to calm down after a stressful day.
“Yoga looked like it was interesting and I started it mostly to work on my flexibility for ballet,” said junior Stacie Byrd. “It helped a lot, especially in my back muscles.”
The yoga classes offered at The Summit focus only on physical conditioning. In China and India, where yoga is frequently practiced, mental and spiritual aspects are included as well, as Parsons realized on her summer travels to Bali, a small island south of Hong Kong.
During her trip Parsons was able to visit temples, meet people in the community, and do yoga for five hours every day.
“I saw the discipline that you use in yoga in the people’s religion,” said Parsons. “It made me realize that our society doesn’t really have that respect or discipline.”
Whether yoga is done in Bali or at The Summit, it can help people relax and forget their troubles.
“Yoga makes you feel good,” said Bianchi. “Afterwards I’ll be perfectly calm.”
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