Does Netflix Provide the Same Chill as Yoga?

As we continue to deal with a dance industry in flux due to the coronavirus, dancers seem to be encountering even more stressful situations.

But there is one thing that’s in your control: According to research published in the journal Complementary Therapies in Medicine, what you do directly before a stress-inducing situation can help you through it.

For the study, a group of adults watched TV or did a hatha yoga video before an acute stress task involving math. Both groups had similar changes in blood pressure and heart rate in reaction to the stressor. But those who did yoga experienced increased self-confidence before and after the stress task, and their blood pressure levels recovered much more quickly.

If you’re nervous about an upcoming master class on Zoom or if you plan to spend your afternoon researching colleges remotely, consider swapping your mindless Netflix streaming for some grounding yoga.