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Yoga: the best way to relax after your final exams!
The busiest times for students are ahead of us: the final exams! For many, this is a very hectic and stressful time, filled with focused study hours. The best thing about your final exams is that when they are over, it's really time to relax! And what's a better way to ease into the summer holiday than to unwind with a yoga session? In this article, we'll cover 6 reasons why yoga is the best way to relax after your final exams.
1. Yoga reduces stress and anxiety
In yoga, it's all about the breath! By focusing on lengthening each breath, you can help calm your mind and body. Shallow breathing is often associated with feelings of stress and anxiety, while deep breathing is associated with feeling a sense of relaxation. Some deep breathing techniques can even reduce cortisol levels, which is the body's primary stress hormone. And we can imagine that during your final exams, cortisol levels will be sky-high!
2. Yoga improves sleep quality
Many yoga poses are said to promote relaxation and reduce stress. For example, forward folds and restorative poses can help you slow down the body, as well as the mind. And that's a recipe for a successful night of sleep! Of course, after weeks of late-night cram sessions, a restful night of sleep is very welcome.
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3. Yoga relieves physical tension
Speaking of those late-night cramming sessions – they affect your posture too! Many students experience tension in the neck, shoulders, and back because of how long they sit and the way they sit. Yoga is a great way to stretch and release this tension, because the postures focus both on strengthening and lengthening the muscles.
4. Yoga enhances mental clarity
Because yoga focuses so much on the experience of the breath and the body, it can help take you away from the mind for a moment. From endless overthinking, you may notice small moments of stillness and clarity. As you can imagine, that can feel like a relief after your final exams.
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5. Yoga boosts your mood
Like any physical sport or workout, yoga can boost your mood because it stimulates the production of endorphins. Especially when you're practicing more vigorous styles of yoga, you may experience these benefits. But even if you're doing slower practices, you can still feel these results. Yoga is fun, and by exploring all these different postures – from gentle bends and stretches to standing upside down or folding yourself in half – you'll leave the class feeling a lot happier!
6. Yoga creates a sense of community
Joining a yoga class can offer a supportive community where you can connect with your neighbors! Many places that teach yoga offer a cup of tea afterwards. Even if you're not very thirsty, we recommend that you stay anyway. It's not about the tea; it's about the conversations you may have with strangers. Let us tell you: they are the best thing about yoga practice!
Did this make you curious about trying out yoga? Good news! In the next few weeks, we're organizing yoga classes on the rooftops of each Student Experience location in the Netherlands! You can sign up for your location or any other location you want to visit. :)
Amsterdam Amstel – June 4
Amsterdam NDSM – June 11
Leiden – June 18
Amsterdam Minervahaven – June 25
Amsterdam Zuidas – July 3
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