When most people think of yoga, they picture flexibility, balance, or a quiet studio. When most people think of mental health, they imagine thoughts and emotions. In reality, the two are deeply connected. Our mental life does not exist separately from the body that carries it. Over the past few years, I have been completing a 200-hour yoga teacher training. I didn’t begin the training because I expected yoga to “clear my mind” or make stress disappear. In fact, one of the mos

My hands tighten on the reins. My helmet feels heavier than it should. And just before the chukker starts, that familiar thought creeps in: Don’t be the weak link. That’s performance anxiety—on horseback, mallet in hand, heart racing—alive and well. As an amateur polo player, I feel it most in the moments right before competitive play. The crowd fades, the horses line up, and suddenly my mind gets loud. Am I sharp enough today? Will I miss the play? Will I let my teammates do