Why is it so beneficial for teenagers to practice yoga... and how can you help?

Why is it so beneficial for teenagers to practice yoga and how can you help?

We know yoga helps us, right? That's why we practice it! Some of us may have been lucky enough to get into yoga at a young age, but for me (and most of my students) I found yoga in my 20's, after quite a stressful time as a teenager.

During adolescence I felt a lot of feelings, but I didn't really understand them very well. I remember commenting that my chest felt tight and it was hard to breathe, but I had no idea that this was stress or anxiety. I also struggled a lot with confidence in my body, and it wasn't really until I found yoga that this changed and I began to accept it, and myself. My story isn't unique, it's the same for so many of my students.

For young people, yoga can offer a chance to reconnect with their bodies at a time when they are rapidly changing. 

As they re-connect, they are able to hear their bodies more clearly. This is so important because often our bodies send us signals about how we are feeling that are easily missed if we aren't able to hear them!

Being able to notice and take control of our breathing is also hugely powerful. When teenagers are coping with stress on some level the breath can be an amazing tool. It's something that can be used anywhere, any time, whether sitting at a desk in school or on a bus. Much like simple mindfulness practices, breathing techniques can really help to give young people a bit of control in situations that may be leaving them feeling very out of control.

Yoga teaches us more than simply to move our bodies and breathe, though. The life lessons can be literally life changing! The ethical guidelines of the yamas and niyamas provide a framework for us to follow. For me personally, I carried the concept of Ahimsa (non-harming), which is the first yama, through so much of my life when I first started to practice yoga, and it helped me to be kinder to myself. This was a huge shift for me and it's something I've noticed when I teach teenagers.

So how can you help? 

A friend recently suggested to me that I place a mat next to mine when I practice yoga, leaving an invitation for my daughter to join me if she wants to. I thought this was such a nice way to leave it in her hands... But my daughter's 4, not 14 (although sometimes I do wonder!) If you have teenagers you can talk to them about yoga, explain what it is, why you practice and what you get from it. You can then invite them to join you, or find a class or tutorial online for them to try.

Some teenagers will be happy to join in or be led by you as their parent, but some will prefer to learn from someone else. This is natural and part of the process of being a teenager! Doing yoga together can be a great way to bond, but if it's not working for you both then there are lots of ways you can support your child to practice yoga themselves.

Learning to teach yoga and mindfulness to teenagers is a great option for those of you who want to share the practice with your children, with your student's children, or with children you currently work with.

I will be running another Youth Yoga and Mindfulness online training this Summer. I also have a self paced course that you can start any time, and work through as it suits you.

Both courses cover everything you will need in order to share yoga with young people. Topics include:

• physical and emotional development during adolescence

• neuroscience and the developing teenage brain

• asana for young people

• pranayama and it's benefits

• simple mindfulness practices

• how to introduce yoga philosophy into class

• planning and sequencing classes for specific groups and needs

• managing behaviour

• setting up and running a business

If you'd like to find out more about training to teach yoga to teens, or you simply want a little advice and guidance about how to share yoga, please get in touch! The summer is a great time for kids to switch off from school, but as September rolls around I know these practices will be more and more beneficial for them.

#ThisGirlCan

This week, as part of a This Girl Can day, I was invited to Shoreham Academy to teach yoga to all the girls in year 7, 8, 9 AND 10! The day gave them an opportunity to try something new in a fun and informal way and I was amazed at how well they all engaged!  

This Girl Can is a national campaign developed by Sport England to get girls and women moving. The message is fun, friendly and inclusive, aiming to help us overcome the growing trend of inactivity among adults and young people, especially women.

I hated PE when I was at school. Whilst I am extremely driven, I am not a fan of competitive sport and would often make excuses to avoid the lessons. It wasn't until I reached my early 20's that I really found my love of exercise, fueled by a passion for the sea and eventually a sanctuary in my yoga mat. Events such as this, put on by a wonderful team of teachers at the Academy, are so important for young people. Even if just one of those participants finds an affinity with yoga or any of the other activities that were on offer, then it is a success.

Unfortunately it seems that the GCSE PE curriculum is changing next year, yet again, with the re-introduction of all the traditional team games. I hope that schools continue to value the importance of fitness and alternative sports that simply get young people active and enjoying it!  

Yoga Heals

Yoga Heals - yoga and chronic pain

From the moment I started teaching yoga I found myself in therapeutic environments.  It wasn't such a conscious decision but it's something I have always loved. My latest environment is the physio gym at Worthing hospital, where I have been teaching yoga to a group of teenage girls with chronic pain. It seems natural to use yoga in this way although it's not something we hear about that often so I thought I'd share it.

I have worked with people in pain before but haven't had the opportunity to work alongside other professionals and draw from their expertise too. Over the weeks I have learned that with chronic pain there is often link between psychological and physical issues and for this reason yoga and relaxation are really important tools. Most of the girls suffer from anxiety, stress and depression. Knowing which one came first is difficult to tell, but helping them to let go and relax is something I am able to do!

For many of us yoga is a physical practice. For some it is also a meditative practice. However for these girls it is an opportunity to meet other people in the same situation as them, to feel safe, un-judged and supported. The social aspect of these classes is as important as the internal benefits - being a teenage can be confusing enough but not being able to go to school, take part in activities or go out with friends is isolating.  Throughout the sessions we use breathing exercises, meditation techniques and yoga nidra alongside asana to help the nervous system to calm down. The safe environment allows the young people to fully relax, and the results after just a  few sessions have been amazing. One client commented to me and her consultant 'it's the most relaxed I've felt in over a year. I didn't realise I was in so much pain until you made it go away'. 

If there's one thing I've been reminded of through these sessions it's that we should never judge others. We have no idea what another person is feeling, whether it's anxiety or debilitating pain. A lot of the time the symptoms are difficult to see, but that doesn't mean they aren't there. It's also reminded me how powerful simple breathing and quiet relaxation can be! 

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