To help students manage pre-exam stress, Dr Anusharani Sewchurran from the Centre for General Education at the Midlands campuses recently organised beginner’s yoga sessions on both the Riverside and Indumiso campuses.

The sessions were facilitated by Baijanjayanthi Panda, an experienced yoga practitioner from Odisha, India. While the immediate goal was to relieve examination-related tension, Panda highlighted yoga’s deeper and long-term benefits for holistic well-being.

She explained that regular yoga practice fosters internal balance, enhances focus, and equips individuals to better navigate the pressures of modern life. The sessions incorporated physical postures, controlled breathing exercises, and a brief introduction to meditation.

According to Dr Sewchurran, observations indicated that students often experience heightened stress, shallow breathing, and reduced concentration in the lead-up to examinations.

“Yoga’s capacity to encourage lengthened breath is anticipated to contribute to improved focus and overall efficiency beyond just the examination context, impacting broader life,” she said.

Following the calming sessions, students enjoyed a healthy lunch, reinforcing the day’s focus on wellness and mindfulness. Dr Sewchurran noted that the sessions aimed to gauge student receptivity to yoga as a self-care practice, and the response was overwhelmingly positive.

Given the enthusiastic participation and feedback, there is a strong likelihood that yoga classes will become a regular feature in future student wellness initiatives.