Keeping Your Stress in Check During Testing

Yoga and breathing practices to ease your stress

Light+stretches+and+controlled+breathing+are+just+some+ways+students+can+relieve+the+stress+of+exam+season.

Photo by Michele Sullivan

Light stretches and controlled breathing are just some ways students can relieve the stress of exam season.

Practicing yoga to help de-stress you before exams may seem unnatural to beginners. However, research has proved time and time again that doing yoga really is beneficial for the mind, body, and soul.

 Testing week can be the most stressful time of the year for a lot of students. The standards are high and expectations are raised. Test anxiety begins creeping in. Knowing how to breathe properly is a skill not taught to most, but necessary to all. Taking deep breaths in stressful situations sends a message to your brain telling your body to calm down and relax. One way to breathe correctly is to start by laying flat on your back, placing one hand on your chest, and one on your belly button. Relaxing your body and taking a deep breath through your nose. Make sure the only hand rising is the one on your belly button. Once you have taken a deep breath, hold it for 4 seconds and then exhale slowly. Practicing these deep abdomen breaths for just 20 minutes a day can reduce stress and relax your body. Although the stress of exams will never completely leave students alone until our first beach day, learning this breathing technique can be crucial to students who tend to worry a lot about exams.

 Another yoga technique that can help students calm their nerves is the fetal position. Many people who have practiced yoga before can agree, fetal pose will make you very sleepy. However, sleep is exactly what students need before a big test. To do the fetal pose: you will need to sit up straight, bend your knees and pull them up to your chest. Then, bow forward to face the floor and stretch your arms out all the way in front of you with your palms facing down, reaching forward to stretch the muscles on your side. When comfortable, clear your mind and practice healthy breathing techniques. This should relieve some tension in your body and help you fall asleep quicker. Sometimes all students need is a little relaxation and some self-reassurance to give them the confidence they need to tackle exam week.