Mental and physical care is of utmost importance in the lives of everyone, especially students. Yoga is a way to combine both the practice of mental focus and physical fitness into one, healthy exercise.
Technician had the pleasure of sitting down with yoga and cycling instructor Renee Harrington, who gave insight on the benefits of yoga and how yoga can positively impact the lives of every student at NC State.
How does yoga help you combat stress?
Yoga helps you to understand that there is a greater whole. We think that our path has to go a certain way — this is my major, this is my path, this is what I am supposed to do — and when something disrupts that you feel lost. Yoga brings you back into the present moment and causes you to appreciate the moment and what is happening to you. Yoga reminds you that even if you go sideways, or take a different route that, that path will eventually lead to where you should go.
Where did your love for fitness come from?
We grew up going outside all of the time. I ran my first race; it was a Turkey Trot when I was 16. I took first place; I got a trophy. Everyone is at their own pace with it and my pace is not the same as someone else. Yoga is one of my goals every week. It helps me to make sure that I am not getting injured [when cycling].
Do you believe yoga helps improve mental focus?
It does because with yoga it’s more than just physical, it’s also mindful. So being able to be calm and relax […] to turn inward instead of being distracted by those things around you. Yoga helps to tap into your breathing by doing a kind of diaphragmatic breathing.
The word ‘yoga’ comes from a Sanskrit origin that means ‘to unite.’ Do you believe that by unifying your mind and body through this practice that it helps improve your overall physical and mental performance?
With every sort of physical activity we are taught to ignore what our bodies are telling us, to just check out and go as hard or fast as you can. Like with running, you jump on the treadmill, pop in your headphones and just try to pass the time. Whereas with yoga, you connect the mind back to the body so you are able to do things that are good, healthy and restorative to your body. You push when you know you can and take it easy when you know you should recover.
What, if anything, have you learned from your students?
My students inspire me; I credit them with my happiness. If I am having a bad day and I teach a class it turns it around. Yoga is about connection and connecting with them [does that for me].
Multiple forms of group yoga classes are offered for free through University Recreation group fitness in addition to the two 200-level yoga courses offered at NC State. A full schedule for these groups is available through the University Recreation website.
Lecturer Renee Harrington does the tree pose in front of her class on Friday at Carmichael Gym. As an instructor of yoga and other health and exercise studies classes, some of Harrington's focuses include stress management and sports performance. Harrington has also instructed other classes such as cross training, run conditioning and water aerobics.
