Hari Om
I am sending you some ‘more proof’ of the positive effects of practising yoga. During the fall semester 2015, I realized what a blessing it is for me to have this platform to bring a comprehensive yoga experience to college students, faculty and staff at Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio.
Yoga classes meet twice per week for 50 minutes and consist of asana, pranayama and/or a meditation practices. Spring semester starts soon with about one hundred students signed up for yoga classes. I am looking forward to another awesome semester of doing my part in lowering stress levels and increasing happiness of students at Cleveland State University! Here are some of the responses received from the students:
“My favourite part of yoga class has been getting the opportunity to escape the stress and work load from all my other classes, and just focus on me and learning how to do something new. Personally, I liked learning yoga nidra, but I enjoyed the physical movements more because yoga nidra would put me to sleep. I particularly liked the anti-rheumatic movements because I tend to have sore muscles and joints, and these exercises relieved a lot of that pain.”
“My favourite part of the yoga class has been the extra energy and positivity I have after. On days when I go directly to work after yoga I am much more awake and lively, and ready to work. I also like that I can use the skills learned on my own to help when I am low-energy, cannot sleep, or am in a bad mood. It is amazing how many benefits there are to yoga.”
“I plan to integrate the practices to gain energy and become more awake. I want to use the breathing practices to sooth myself from reaching breaking points. I want to use practices to slow my world down and become aware of how my body is feeling. To relieve pain and encourage others to try yoga out too.”
“My favourite part of yoga class is a very specific moment – when we state our sankalpas (personal resolve, goal or affirmation) during yoga nidra. I have stuck with one that, if in time I can genuinely embody, will help my life holistically. If nothing else, it brings to mind a goal that without this class I may not think about enough to ever have a shot at reaching. “
“Before taking this class I did not realize how much of one’s self one has to give to the practice. I also did not know that yoga was about so much more than just flexibility but so much awareness needs to be dedicated to the craft and with that awareness a lot of healing, both physical and mental, can be done. “
“As the semester progressed, I learned that my mood had improved and my stress levels had decreased due to the continued practice of yoga.”
“I love seeing everyone smiling and being happy and relaxed in this class and I think that is what I loved most about it.”
Sent by Swami Atmarupa, Atma Center, USA