Yoga was developed by the Indus-Sarasvati civilization in Northern India. The word itself was found in what was called the Rig Veda. The texts included songs, mantras and rituals, according to the history of yoga on Yogabasics.com.

Yoga originated over 5,000 years ago. Today, yoga
is widely known as an activity that incorporates ascetic discipline, which involves breath control, meditation and body postures for health and relaxation.

For 21-year-old Vernesa Hasanovic, yoga is so much more. She was first introduced to yoga during her battle with an eating disorder. Yoga wasn’t always positive for her though.

Hasanovic grew up as a confident person. She didn’t particularly care what others thought. In seventh grade, however, she began to lose confidence in her body, and one person began to make her feel insecure about her self-image. Over time, Hasanovic said she started to believe what she was told.

From there her body image went downhill. “I didn’t even know who I was,” she said.

She switched school districts and became what she described as the new girl at school who people didn’t like.

“I had no friends,” Hasanovic said. “Everyone hated me.”

When she moved away from home to study at Iowa State University, the problem got worse. In December of 2014, she was diagnosed with Anorexia.

Hasanovic said she didn’t want to tell anyone.

In February 2015, Hasanovic fell into a coma and was hospitalized due to her Anorexia.

The McCallum Place Eating Disorder Center in St. Louis was where Hasanovic began treatment. This was the first time she was introduced to yoga. Her initial opinion was that it was ridiculous; she wasn’t sure how yoga would help her get better.

The treatment facility focuses on restoring energy, balance, flexibility and trust through a variety of treatments. According to it’s website, the therapy is centralized on, “values and work to develop a flexible concept of self.” Patients
learn to face their fears and develop skills and confidence in relationships and emotion.

Hasanovic said yoga is so much more it’s stereotypes. It
is a connection between the mind and body. This helped her heal and continues to do so. It gives the mental resilience that people need in life, she said.

Her journey with yoga began slowly. Hasanovic started meeting once a week for yoga, and each week things would get a little easier. What started out as something she really didn’t want to do now feels completely natural for her.

It was up to her to get back on the road to recovery after being forced to leave ISU for treatment.

“I didn’t want to change,” Hasanovic said.
In her mind, she never thought that yoga would be her

saving grace.
Hasanovic said her resistance to yoga helped her grow.

Things started clicking. Things were starting to become clearer for her. Hasanovic described a time when she went on a simple walk. During the walk, she noticed a tree she hadn’t before. Simple things like that tree made her realize how yoga has helped her view everything around her differently. It was something simple but important.

Yoga can mean many different things; she describes it as a breath. While yoga does help her stay fit, Hasanovic said the underlying purpose is more important.

Still there are plenty of stereotypes. Brennan Roland, Grand View kinesiology and health promotion major disagrees with the common sentiment that yoga is only for women.

He said yoga is much harder than most think. It works a lot on “core stability, balance, and flexibility,” he said.

It helped him relax his nervous system, which he feels is needed from time to time. Roland actively works out and spends time at the gym lifting weights.

Hasanovic said yoga works a lot of smaller muscles. A lot of people don’t think about that. She jokingly said that people don’t go around saying, “I worked out my rib cage today!”

Almost three years after being at one of the lowest points of her battle with Anorexia, Hasanovic continues the art
of yoga regularly. In April 2016, she finished her teacher training at Power Life Yoga in Des Moines.

She teaches regularly at FIT Fitness in Windsor Heights. The stories, she said, are the best part of the job. She said when people come up after a yoga class telling her they really needed yoga as part of their day, it makes teaching worth it.

For another GV student, Shena Geisinger, yoga helped move her through everyday life. “After a Power Life class I would always feel great like I did work physically while taking a mental break,” Hasanovic said.

Most yoga classes give room for reflection and meditation. Geisinger said doing yoga 3 or 4 times a week was important because it allowed her to take an hour out of the day to better herself.

“Physically and mentally meditation and self reflection is an integral part of classes at Power Life, which is really helpful with a busy schedule,” Geisinger said.

Hasanovic described the importance of not just existing but living. Ben Spellman who has been an influential part of her life, said one thing he taught her was that you only get one life.

Hasanovic’s path has led her to GV. She said she actively incorporates yoga in her life, works at Lululemon and is going to school.

In the upcoming weeks, Hasanovic will be speaking to the Tri Delta sorority house at Iowa State University. She will teach a one-hour class about body awareness and share her story.

“Yoga is my rock,” she said “Life is a bunch of noise, and we lose sight of what we want to do. We forget how to live, and we just exist.”