Yoga is a practice that is world renowned and dates back as far as 3 million B.C. So why are so many people still doing it today? SBA teacher Mrs. Giles has one answer.

   Mrs. Giles has been teaching religion at SBA for the last five years and is very passionate about the subject.

   “I love teaching World Religions because I think it helps students learn more about the faith of their fellow citizens. It also help SBA students better understand their own faith by using comparisons. It shows we all really have so much in common. It also builds tolerance and respect in our world.”

   In recent years, she decided to bring her class to a whole new level by introducing her classes to the ancient art of yoga.

   “I got the idea from Mrs. Seboldt. She does it too. I thought it would be a great way to actually practice one of the Hindu Paths to Liberation.”

   In October, Mrs. Giles had her students watch a video called “Wai Lana – Beginner’s Yoga” and practice certain moves and positions from it.

   Mrs. Giles feels that through yoga, students can empty their minds and prepare themselves for whatever obstacles approach them.

    Mrs. Giles said, “I think it will be good for students to understand where yoga came from and how Hindus use this as a way to achieve Moksha.” She went on to say, “I see firsthand how busy our students are – especially the seniors. Senior year is a lot of fun – but it can also be stressful. I think doing yoga helps them to slow down and focus. It can be a form of prayer and meditation for them. A lot of the students have never done yoga before or think it is too hard. Now, they see that it can be beneficial for everyone. When you slow down and are quiet, you can listen to what God is telling you!”

   Many SBA teams have also decided to bring Yoga into their practice schedule. Yoga strengthens your core and provides a sense of patience and a “mind over matter attitude.”

   There is a common misconception that yoga is easy and not stressful, only for soccer moms and the elderly. Many SBA athletes believe otherwise.

   Senior baseball player Matt Spain talked about his experiences and said, “I thought it was going to be easy. I went into practice excited, but then I saw that it was a lot harder than I imagined.”