Healthy Coping Mechanisms Series
#1: Yoga
“Yoga does not just change the way we see things, it transforms the person who sees.”
― B.K.S Iyengar
Coping serves as a deliberate and cognitive strategy, a multifaceted approach to alleviate challenging emotions. It is a natural defensive strategy that humans engage in to either release or escape the presence of unwanted feelings, and there are two sides to this coping coin. On one side, there are extremely healthy ways to cope with emotions, and on the other side, there are unhealthy ways that may set you free at the moment but are ultimately holding you back from truly breaking through the emotional dungeon you may be trapped in. During this 3-part series, we are highlighting healthy coping mechanisms that student-athletes can engage in to promote robust avenues of healing and the first one up for discussion is Yoga! Yoga, which is considered a unique spiritual discipline, originated thousands of years ago in India and was practiced to unite the body, mind, and breath. This groundbreaking practice is performed daily by many as there are yoga studios, yoga teachers, and yoga instructors who dedicate their lives to promoting this discipline and it can truly shape your perceptions. Coupled with meditation, Yoga can serve as an outlet that allows you to escape your thoughts, feelings, and emotions and to engage in the present moment and dawn in nothingness. As humans who constantly engage in content, conversation, and are accessible at any moment, there are rarely opportunities we have to just sit and just be. Yoga provides that opportunity!
For athletes, recognizing the coping mechanisms that resonate with your body, mind, and spirit is pivotal. Yoga emerges as a powerful ally in this journey, contributing to physical health and bolstering mental well-being simultaneously. There has been extensive research that has validated the practice of Yoga and the benefits that it can have on your life. From an athletic standpoint, practicing Yoga regularly can help improve your balance, flexibility, and heart rate, reduce inflammation, and refine breathing techniques which will only improve your athletic performance and overall athletic ability. From a mental sense, yoga aids in helping you focus, being calm and clear, stress management, body image, and overall, just improving your mental wellness. As you can see, the benefits of Yoga are endless! B.K.S Iyengar, a Yoga guru, stated that Yoga does not just change the way we see things, it transforms the person who sees, and this could not be more correct!
Yoga, if regularly practiced, can transform you and can introduce you to a healthy way to cope with the stressors that you as student-athletes face!
Yoga provides a sanctuary to engage in an act seldom promoted in today's fast-paced world—the art of being present. We are always chasing the next win, the next practice, the next opportunity, the next promotion, when the biggest gift we have is the gift of now. Yoga allows you to be in the present moment to notice your body, your breath, and your spirit and to listen to it. Yoga transforms you as it creates subconscious habits in your brain that can translate to other areas of your life. If you have never done it, try it out! Whether it’s going to a yoga studio with friends and teammates, hiring an instructor, or simply watching a yoga session on an online platform and participating individually, being intentional with how you cope will make all the difference in your life!
Namaste.
