Yoga class at HC helps students deal with stress and anxiety

High school students are stressed. This is one statement that can generally be agreed upon. As a consequence, teachers at HC have decided to begin a stress relief and yoga class in order to assist students in relaxing so they can reach their full potential. This fall is the first school year this class has been a part of the curriculum.

There are three yoga classes of 25 students or more. Yoga and breathing techniques provide relief to many students throughout the day.

“We do meditations,” HC yoga student Sarah Collins said, “which are good because they help you focus for the rest of the day.”

Anxiety affects a large population of students, caused by everything including tests, AP classes, home lives and homework. Yoga is just one of many methods students can use in order to lessen the stress they feel.

“I get really frustrated sometimes,” HC yoga student Julia Creamer said. “[Breathing techniques] are a good thing to do, and no one knows you’re doing it really. It just looks like you’re breathing.”

Many students will admit they suffer from stress due to the school environment. Students will use many different methods offered within the school in order to distract themselves from the anxiety.

“Calming activities, like reading or painting [help deal with anxiety],” HC student Skylar Scott said.

Students at HC are looking for a break during the school day. Students all have different needs and different stressors, which are being addressed by teachers.

“[Anxiety] makes it difficult to function,” Scott said. “You’re always stressed.”

The yoga class was introduced by the HC yoga teacher, Katherine Luton, at the beginning of last fall.  By February of 2017 yoga/stress relief was introduced into the curriculum, and students began signing up. Students still sign up, switching from their current classes into yoga.

“Yoga is something that you continue for a lifetime,” Luton said.

Meditation and breathing exercises have assisted students in lessening stress so far this year. A large portion of the daily class is focused on meditation and relaxation of the mind and body.

“I’ve had other teachers throughout the building approach and say, ‘I saw such and such student, they were really stressed out,'” Luton said. “‘They told me they were using those breathing techniques, not only before the exam, but during the exam.'”

Yoga and breathing techniques are activities that can be done at home, during school, or anywhere. Luton hopes the class will grow every year so more students can learn techniques to lessen the stress they are feeling for the rest of their lives.