A component of the CEL project includes the completion of a literature review. In this literature review, my group and I had the task of looking at several common yogic elements, such as breathing and poses, and comment on what current research shows and where future research should be directed. I specifically had the opportunity to look at a yoga posture called the chest-opener which is an expansive position that is thought to encourage confidence, subjective energy and positivity within an individual. This review required students not only to comment on what research shows about the move but also give summaries of the study design and comment on limitations. This allowed me to critically analyze the papers that I found. I looked at the methodology of each study and compared it to other similar studies,. I tried to think about why certain studies used the particular methodology they had selected. When thinking of limitations, I asked questions such as “What did researchers not include?,” “What are some concerns I have regarding selection of subjects?,” or “What is the control group in this study and is it a true control?”

These analytical skills encouraged me not to look at the literature at surface-level but to go one step further and truly analyze and critique; many papers suggest valuable conclusions but it is important to know what the researches did in order to get to those conclusions and reflect on that. Critical thinking and analysis is definitely a skill that I will be able to employ in my career. Since I am planning to go into medicine, it is important to be able to criticize new research findings since they are constantly being produced. These findings have implications on patients, healthcare professionals and the healthcare system as a whole so it is important to look at these results with skepticism to ensure that they are applicable and will not lead to adverse effects. Additionally, since I want to specialize in addiction medicine, reviewing the literature concerning yoga as a potential adjunctive treatment for addicts and those in recovery was valuable and something to keep in mind as I work towards my career prospects.

Although I have always heard of yoga aiming to unify the mind and body of an individual, I didn’t know the scientific mechanisms underlying this phenomenon. I didn’t know what the significance of certain yoga poses were and the long-term effects they could have. Working with Evonne Sullivan in her Yoga for Wellness and Recovery program allowed me to gain a better understanding of yoga in general and the therapeutic effects it has. For example, I learnt that the chest-opening pose has a physiological basis for increasing an individual's’ subjective sense of energy and self-esteem.

The poses, postures and practises employed in yoga affect individuals at the neuroendocrine, physiological and psychological levels (Zavala et al., 2018). Yoga has commonly been associated with positive implications within these systems, and thus a positive mental state as there is mind-body unification. This allows individuals who are suffering from mental illness or addiction to cope with uncomfortable states, cravings or emotions and fight the battles they are facing in a healthy manner.

Gaining this knowledge about yoga’s therapeutic potential within mental illness and recovery is definitely something I can use in my career. I was always under the implication that conventional treatments, such as methadone, were the most effective solution for addicts. However, conducting this research through the CEL project has shown me otherwise - that there are other effective methods for addicts. I hope to see further research being directed towards the relation between yoga and addictions and possibly the implementation of yoga as a treatment strategy or adjunctive. This new knowledge also encourages me to explore the neuroendocrine, physiological and psychological implications of other practises such as visual arts, music or dance. Perhaps these practises also have therapeutic potentials and can be incorporated in recovery programs in the future.

Through completion of the CEL project, I was able to refine many skills as I have mentioned before. These include, but are not limited to, time management, communication and teamwork skills. I will give a brief discussion of each in this section.

Throughout the duration of the CEL project, we, as a group, established several deadlines that were both feasible with group members, but more importantly, feasible with our CEL supervisor. Having a full course load and many other important deadlines to meet, it was difficult at times to get all the work done in a timely, efficient manner. However, I planned ahead, organized my schedule and fortunately, I was able to complete all tasks on time without stressing myself out too much. Time-management is an important skill to have as there will always be important deadlines to meet within schoolwork and also within one’s career. It is critical to be able to meet these deadlines while also making time for self-care and hobbies.

I was able to develop communication and teamwork skills. The CEL project is group-based meaning that in order to achieve success, each group member must be able to communicate their ideas, constructively criticize others’ ideas in a polite manner and sufficiently contribute to the goals of the group. Since many of my previous undergraduate courses have not had group-based components, this project gave me the opportunity to work with different students, gain new perspectives and make new friends while simultaneously working towards a common academic goal. We were able to divide tasks equally among ourselves. I was also able to develop communication skills and convey my ideas while taking into consideration the ideas of others. Overall, this has helped me grow as a group member and I am looking forward to working in teams in the future. Communication and teamwork are both critical skills within the field of medicine as healthcare is administered by a team rather than just one individual, most of the time. Effective communication between healthcare professionals leads to improved patient outcomes and an efficient healthcare system. Additionally, as an addictionologist, I must be able to employ communication skills in a sensitive, but effective manner in order to get my point across to addicts, who are often vulnerable.