Brie Thompson is a journalism senior and opinion columnist for Mustang News. The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of Mustang Media Group.
“Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self,“ reads the Bhagavad Gita, an ancient Hindu scripture that helped shape the original concept of Samkhya-based yoga. At this stage in life, where everyone is on their own journey of self-discovery as young adults, yoga offers a way to take that stress off your shoulders – literally – and reconnect with your true self.
Growing up, I was obsessed with gymnastics. But when I hit a sudden growth spurt at ten years old – everything changed.
With that rapid growth came pain. In gymnastics, being small is key because the sport demands pure muscle. But my body was no longer ideal for it. Still, I persisted, determined to move up levels.
Then one day, while practicing on the beam, I attempted a simple handstand technique – but completely missed. I fell hard, with no mat underneath me. The impact injured my back so severely that, at just ten years old, I developed chronic pain.
For years, I thought I’d be stuck with it forever. But everything changed during my first year of college in 2021. Over Thanksgiving break, my dad took me to a hot yoga class at his studio back home.
Now, my dad is a beast – 60 years old and doing Bikram yoga in 106-degree heat twice a day. I joined him for a few classes, and while it felt like I was dying the first few times, I quickly realized something: my back was getting stronger.
For the first time, I was doing an exercise where my focus wasn’t on performance. Instead, it was about tuning into my body, syncing my breath with movement, and finding balance between strength and surrender. The way yoga forces you to slow down, to be present, was something I had never experienced before. It wasn’t just a workout – it was a reset.
Now, at 21, I try to practice yoga three to four times a week. I’ve become addicted to the sensations, and every time I step onto my mat, I leave feeling rejuvenated. My journey with yoga is still unfolding, and I hope it continues for years to come.
Sarah Hansen, a business administration senior, also shares my love for hot yoga.
“Hot yoga has become one of my favorite ways to work out because not only does it physically challenge me, but it mentally challenges me in the best way. I leave classes with a clear mental state and a deep sense of peace,” Hansen said.
Mindfulness is one of the simplest ways to re-center yourself in college, and yoga is the perfect way to do it. It merges movement with mental focus, creating a full-body and mind exercise. Every breath flows into every movement, grounding you in the present moment.
And yeah, people always say things like, “Yoga isn’t a sport,” or “That’s not real exercise.” Blah blah… all that crap. Exercise looks different for everyone. Do what works for you.
When else during your day do you get the chance to just breathe and stretch? (Not sponsored—but seriously, go to Spark Yoga studio and give it a try. Highly recommend.