Last year, I went to the gym once. One time. That’s it. Ridiculous, no? And sad. Very sad. Though, in all fairness, my lack of gym visitation was not completely due to laziness. In fact, I very much wanted to go! I wanted exercise badly. But, here’s the thing. There are very few exercise machines (treadmills, ellipticals, and bikes), and quite a few students trying to use them. Therefore, while running raggedly on the treadmill, you are subject to the eyes of the many students–who are probably more athletic than you–waiting for you to finish your attempt at exercise. I do indeed hate being watched.

So, this year, I have decided upon an alternative. Yoga. Perfect for me in so many ways. First of all, I am quite flexible; second, I can play the DVD in my room so that I do not have to be watched; third, it will calm my mind; and fourth, it will get me in great shape. I know what you’re thinking. Yoga? Get me in great shape? I’ll stick to running, thanks.

Nope. I’m not kidding with you. Mother and I were so excited about the prospect of doing yoga that we went out and bought four DVDs; this morning we did our first routine, and man, it was intense. I fully understand what people mean when they say in tones your body. I had always thought it was kind of like a relaxing “workout,” as in, not really a work out at all. Was I ever wrong. Yoga pretty much encompasses all of the incredibly painful exercises we did in sports practices in high school: Push-ups, crunches, squats, etc. But in an interesting way, that makes it much more enjoyable. Believe me, though, my thighs are killing me now.

Now, though I seem to have some uncanny knack for yoga (Mother said I looked “graceful,” which is an adjective I have never heard associated with any kind of movement I have ever done before), it is great for everyone. They have all sorts of yoga workouts–for beginners, intermediate, and advanced; to lose weight; for non-flexible people; for toning; for prenatal workouts–pretty much for everything you could think of. So I urge you to go out and find yourself a DVD, or take a class, in any type of yoga that you think you would enjoy. I personally am quite excited about my beginners yoga and then, when I get good at that, my weight-loss yoga DVDs. Try Kathy Smith, she’s great!

I honestly think this is an entertaining way to get a workout. I don’t know about you, but I hate just running on a treadmill for half an hour. And yoga works your whole body, mind, and spirit. It has huge physiological, psychological, and biochemical impacts on your body, improving everything from blood flow to flexibility to improved concentration to increased self-esteem to lowered cholesterol, glucose, and sodium. And that only touches on the many benefits of yoga. It seems life changing, no? I know I’m going to try to stick with it all semester, and you should think about doing it, too. It’s certainly worth a try.

Note to self: Yoga for the win.

Lily Berthold-Bond grew up in a chemical-free zone and has struggled her whole life to understand and accept this non-commercial lifestyle. Now a sophomore at Tufts University, she has embraced her green life and hopes to share its possibilities with the rest of her generation.