ACTION 2015 – YOGA

For this semester, my action is Yoga. I joined Yoga as it will help me calm my mind, increase my concentration and at the same time tone my body. Yoga helps me to release the entire week’s pressure and to calm my mind through controlling my breathing.

My first session of yoga involved many stretching exercises that pushed my body to stretch further than I usually do. At first it was very difficult, as I wasn’t used to stretching and pushing my body to its limits. As I have asthma, it was difficult to hold in my breath for longer period of times during exercises.

We started with a stretching routine, which I know as the ‘ Surya Namaskar’

 Source- https://vedicambassador.wordpress.com/2013/12/15/benefits-of-surya-namaskar-sun-salutation-yoga-asanas/

We repeated this routine 6 times. This was our warm-up routine. After that we moved into more complex stretches while standing, sitting and lying down. I found the standing stretches most difficult as it put all the pressure on my hips and thighs. However this made me realize that these were the areas I needed to work on in order to tone my body.

Over the semester, I hope to tone my body and control my breathing which will help me to stabilize my asthma. By the end of this semester I hope to have achieved a certain level of fitness and flexibility.

I also want to attain the following outcomes over the semester- 

“

•  Improves muscle tone, flexibility, strength and stamina
• Reduces stress and tension
• Boosts self esteem
• Improves concentration and creativity
• Lowers fat
• Improves circulation
• Stimulates the immune system
• Creates sense of well being and calm.      ”

Source - "Why Do Yoga?" Why Do Yoga? N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Mar. 2015. <http://yogasite.com/why.htm>.

THE LEARNING OUTCOMES

This activity will meet all 8 learning outcomes. They are –

1.   Increased their awareness of their strength and areas for growth. It will help increase my awareness of my strengths and weaknesses and then help me build on it.

2.   Undertake new challenges. I will be facing new challenges and difficulties, as I am not flexible and strong.

3.   Shown perseverance and commitment in their activities. This is an activity throughout the semester. I will be working towards toning my body and gaining my strength.

4.   Consider the ethical implications of their actions.  I will wear appropriate clothing and also perform my exercises at a safe distance from another person. As if I fall I might injure them as well.

5.   Developed new skills. Yoga will help me to learn more exercises, and to gain new skills. I will be working to make myself more flexible and in this process, I will be learning more techniques.