Ever since I began doing yoga eight years ago, I have tried to instill in my daughters an appreciation for their body and an ability to go inside and calm themselves. One of my favorite sayings has been “You can’t control what happens to you in life, but you can control your reaction to it.” I am not sure where I first heard it, but there is something very empowering in that statement, the knowledge that we can in a very real way control how we approach life. In effect, we can create our own happiness. Yoga provides a great opportunity to teach this life lesson, and teenagers are often a receptive audience because they are trying to cope with life’s increasing demands on them.
A regular yoga practice can provide many physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits for teens. Yoga’s focus on the body, mind, and breath awareness helps strengthen muscles and improve flexibility, promotes relaxation and reduces stress, and boosts self-confidence and body awareness, important to a healthy lifestyle. The poses can help loosen teens’ tense muscles from team and aerobic sports, while the meditation and breathing exercises help them focus and calm the mind, promoting further relaxation. (Lyness) Another benefit for teens with yoga is that it is very low cost; besides the mat, no special equipment or clothes are needed, and it can be done anywhere at any time.
Yoga is a useful “life tool” for adolescents, which can help them blossom into their full potential with a healthy body, a calm mind, and a belief in their own intrinsic worth. …