Six tests, practice until 7, and 3 hours of homework a night seems like a stressful schedule that is unrealistic, but the truth is this type of cramped and overwhelming schedule is the life of a high school student.

Doctors and parents across the country struggle to find ways to help students balance life, sports, family and friends, school, and deciding what college they are going. Sometimes it seems the only way to resolve everything, is to drop it all. However, quitting is never an option and there are some simple and positive steps to resolving stress not only in teens, but in adults as well.

The solution: yoga.

Yoga is a mind-body practice. Yoga brings together physical and mental disciplines that can help achieve peacefulness of body and mind, which helps people manage stress and anxiety.

However, some may feel as if yoga is just a mind game. Questions arise about how exactly a physical thing could do so much for your mind and body health. What it comes down to is the three primary components of yoga: poses, breathing, and meditation/relaxation.

Poses increase strength and flexibility. Breathing helps control the body and quiet mind. Meditation and relaxation help the body become more aware of its surroundings and the struggles.

Not only does yoga benefit mental health and decrease stress levels, but by practicing yoga, you can gain other health benefits. These benefits include improved fitness and the management of potential chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure and heart disease.

Some may say yoga is too rigorous and not for them, but yoga is one of the few physical activities that can easily be modified. Regardless of the type of yoga you practice, you can modify any pose you need and fit it to your body’s capability.

Overall, yoga is a win-win situation. Not only for someone who is dealing with loads of work and stress, but also for someone who enjoys a relaxing activity that can increase your life expectancy and decrease your gray hairs!