Pre-Topic: Benefits of Yoga

Anxiety and depression are mental illnesses that millions of Americans deal with. However, some individuals are interested in treating their illnesses with activity rather than pharmaceuticals. This article explains how in many different studies, yoga has helped people with anxiety, depression, and many other health problems. Personally, I have noticed that when I am in a “funk” I enjoy devoting thirty minutes or so of my time to my practice. I have seen that it helps calm me down and almost makes me create a peaceful environment out of something that once wasn’t. So, why is that? How is it possible that moving your body in a certain way can cause a sense of serenity? According to that article, a lot of the stress relieving sensation that comes from yoga has to do with the unique breathing technique. Apparently there is a program called “Sudarshan Kriya Yoga,” aka SKY breathing, is basically just controlled breathing. There was a study that involved SKY breathing in a group of alcoholic men and it showed that based on the depression inventory, their levels dropped 75%. So, I guess focusing on your breath sometimes can be quite beneficial.

In addition, yoga poses have helped many with physical problems. Many of the poses were created to target certain areas of the body, to release tension and stress that harbors in those places. With yoga, comes the seven chakras. These chakras are points on the body which when focused on, can cause less stress. They are: the root chakra, at the base of the spine, the sacral chakra, at the lower abdomen, the solar plexus, at the upper abdomen, the heart chakra (obviously placed), the throat chakra, the third-eye chakra, located between the eyes, and the crown chakra, on the top of the head. Some poses with simple yoga flows are directed to hit a certain chakra. This way, someone who links their anxiety to financial issues would potentially find the most benefit in poses directed toward the root chakra. These poses are meant to help them feel more grounded and secure in whatever stage of life they are at, in order to hopefully relieve them of the constant worrying. The other six chakras represent different emotional instabilities that many suffer from.

I found it interesting that in the article, it was said that they have brought this study of yoga into a psychiatric hospital. Now my question is, since there was said to be improvement in the patients that took part in the classes, why isn’t yoga integrated in more mental health hospitals? Or is it? With a natural, obviously-successful remedy, is there any room for older techniques anymore? To my understanding, depression is still sometimes correlated with chemicals in the brain not releasing. However, with yoga a chemical called GABA is released, which actually acts as an antidepressant. So, with a phenomenon like yoga at our disposal, why has it not become even more popular in the medical world, and are there any doctors that actually recommend it in lieu of pharmaceuticals?

Other links:

Chakras

GABA

Pre-Topic: The Perfect 10

Gymnastics is a sport I hold dear to my heart. Most of my younger years were spent inside a gym, surrounded by coaches and equipment. I found an article on the reasons why gymnastics will be such a hit during this Olympics. The first part of the article explains how gymnastics gained popularity. It has been a sport for centuries however, only in the late 1900’s it became more apparent in the competitive world. Being so involved in gymnastics, I always followed the top gymnasts around the world. Thus, when Nadia Comaneci’s name popped up in the article, I was intrigued.

The article overlays how the “perfect 10” score has changed since Comaneci’s well-known routine was awarded with one. The scoring system has changed however, so have the gymnasts themselves. In the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, world competitive gymnasts were typically in their twenties with a varying athletic build. Although with the shift in evaluation methods, expectations of an ideal gymnast changed. According to Comaneci, “the new gymnast was smaller, younger, leaner and focused not only on mastering technique but also on pushing the envelope on each apparatus to achieve the maximum level of difficulty and the highest possible score.”

Fortunately, my time as a gymnast took place during this revolution. Gymnastics became a sport with certain standards and importance in the sport world. In my own experience through competitions, the other girls I was up against were tough. These girls were between four and five foot tall, completely made of muscle. There were the “powerhouses” and the “dancers.” The difference between each were that powerhouses were the ones the could tumble without blinking, nothing seemed like a challenge. The dancers were not particularly great at this, but their dancing within routines would blow you away.

I got lucky, I was both. I had the strength and muscle mass that allowed me to tumble effortlessly, but I still could, as my mom would say, “captivate the audience with my performance.” According to this article, one of the most well-known gymnasts of the last few years is Simone Biles. I, even retiring from this sport, look up to her because she is that ideal all-around gymnast. The article explains that the US seems to be producing more and more of these gymnasts that create a real competition across the globe, especially during the Olympic games.

To me, understanding how one’s figure correlates to athletic ability is interesting. I find it most fun to read about because I experienced it. It is even more exciting to watch the current Olympic games and compare the technique, build and discipline to previous games. What causes there to be a shift in the ideal athlete for a sport at a certain time? Is it society’s idea of “ideal?”

Article Link

Blog #1

Hi everyone, my name is Alexandra however, I go by Allie. This will be my second year at Saddleback and I am majoring in Political Science. I work two jobs. One, as a sales representative for Payless Shoes and the other as a Personal Assistant for a CEO of a Marketing Consultant Company. In my spare time, I enjoy practicing yoga, hiking, going to the beach, and reading.

I aspire to go to Law School and become and International Business Lawyer. I am also very interested in completing the yoga program here at Saddleback in order to become a teacher. I love to argue, I find that I do well in it and I lay my points out in ways that make total sense. Thus, I can create a good argument from most topics. However, I always seem to talk about topics that have to do with equality, national and international. I find myself always looking at articles about successful business people. I think this derives from the fact that I am so worried about the future and making sure that I leave a legacy of some sort.

I love music and I love to dance. I was a competitive gymnast for ten years, so that has always been a passion of mine. I hope that one day I am able to open a dance and gymnastics academy. A place where people of all ages can come and find that same type of passion I had. Gymnastics to me is one of the most beautiful performing art there is. When I would train, I would put on one of my favorite music stations and just get lost in the movements.

Just like gymnastics, I try to get lost in my writing. I enjoy putting on my headphones and just letting my words take me wherever they want to go. I find writing the best way for me to express and release my thoughts. Good or bad, a word doc is my safe haven. Thus, English classes are typically fun for me. I do face challenges with different kinds of essays and the organization of my essays. I typically see comments from teachers that consist of “good flow, needs work in construction” or “try not to go on a tangent.” Generally, I do well in writing but I tend to hit writer’s block every so often. In this case, I try to take myself out of the writing space and find something else to occupy my mind.

I guess that’s everything for now. Until next time…