Finding a way to exercise is tough for many high school students. Being at school all day, having late nights studying, and the added stress of extracurriculars can take its toll. Many students have found yoga as a way to workout and unwind from the long days.

More than 15 million people all over the U.S practice yoga regularly. 72.2 percent of those people are women. Yoga poses have been traced back to 3000 b.c. Yoga’s original purpose was spiritual and revolves around self enlightenment, but has gradually modernized to a focus of physical flexibility, balance and relaxation.

“It helps me in sports because it increases flexibility,” sophomore tennis player Katie Albers said. “Plus it’s a fun way to stretch and workout.”

Many athletes have suffered injuries and discomfort due to stressed joints and muscle tension. Yoga relieves mental and physical tension, allowing athletes to stretch themselves farther and have a lower risk of injury. The ancient stretch is not only about centering the body and mind, but has modernized to benefit many athletes in all sports. The Majestics Drill Team has adopted yoga positions into their regular practice because of its intense but safe stretch.

“We do a lot of stretching that resembles yoga,” sophomore Majestic Alison Nies said.

“It helps stretch everyone out and helps out with ability and technique.”

Many students have taken yoga up for the physical benefit, but there is also a mental benefit that a lot of students are unaware about.

“Along with the muscles stretching and the exercise there is always that nice mental focus, mental relaxation, mental melding of mind and body,” nurse Jeannie Haines said.  “Concentrating on good things for the mind and body and can only be helpful.”

Yoga has been studied by many doctors and psychiatrists and has been proved to help in soothing the mind of someone with stress, depression, insomnia and other mental illnesses.

“Most individuals already know that yoga produces some kind of a calming effect,” Dr. P. Murali Doraiswamy, a professor of psychiatry and medicine at Duke University Medical Center told Time Magazine. “Individually, people feel better after doing the physical exercise. Mentally, people feel calmer, sharper, maybe more content.”

That could explain the number of yoga studios popping up around town. Vibe Yoga is the closest and newest studio with two rooms , one for private classes and one for larger, more regular classes.

Whether you can’t sleep, are stressed over a test, or just want to avoid injuries, yoga has been an increasing trend and relaxing form of exercise for many teens.

“Love is all that matters,” Spanish teacher and yoga instructor Maryline Gengoux said. “Always remember to breathe in the midst of care and all is well.”