Whether you practice every morning or only when life gets a little overwhelming, yoga offers a simple way to pause and reconnect. Imangine, instead of rushing through another busy day, taking a few minutes to roll out your mat, breathe a little deeper, and let your body move in a way that actually feels good! Long before yoga became part of fitness trends and wellness apps, people in ancient India used it to find clarity and balance. That core purpose hasnt changed. As the Rubin Museum explains, the word yoga comes from the Sanskrit yuj, meaning to yoke or join, a reminder that the practice has always centered on uniting the mind and body (The Origins of Yoga). Even today, that grounding intention makes yoga a reliable tool for steadying stress and regaining a sense of calm.

Modern research backs this up. A review in the International Journal of Yoga notes that yoga can reduce stress, improve emotional regulation, and support overall well-being by influencing the bodys stress-response systems (Hurner, 2023). Many practitioners already know this from experience. Yoga simply helps you feel better, both mentally and physically!

Join the Mindful Moves Yoga Challenge on December 10 by completing any yoga routine of your choice and submitting a photo. No pressure. No performance. Just movement, intention, and a moment to reset.

#MindfulMovesChallenge

There are no bibs, shirts, or medals; you will receive a digital certificate upon completing the challenge!



Works Cited:

Douglas, Linda. Dissecting the Paradox: Spirituality and Yoga in Mental Wellbeing. Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health, vol. 27, no. 2, Apr. 2025, pp. 25059. EBSCOhost, https://doi.org/10.1080/19349637.2024.2341944.

The Rubin Museum. The Origins of Yoga. Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art, 12 Oct. 2018, rubinmuseum.org/the-origins-of-yoga/.