The teenage years are some of the best years of our lives, a time for discovery, changes and opportunity and yet they are also some of the most challenging years of our lives. Dealing with growing up, school demands and social changes can lead to increased stress, anxiety, and concentration issues. Sports and other physical fitness activities are a great way to channel these mental roadblocks. Sometimes competitive sports are not for everyone, and do not ease the mind as well for some people. Therefore, exploring the benefits of teen yoga can be invaluable.
Many top athletes use yoga to build their strength and their focus so it is just as useful for the competitive teen boy rugby player as the teen girl who isn’t so keen on sport – everyone benefits; it helps all people become more aware of themselves both physically and mentally and it helps people relax.
In learning to relax young people gain more space in their heads, the more they relax the easier it is to let go of problems and memories as they surface, thus creating more space in their minds. This extra mental space can help young people find new solutions to their problems or new perspectives about various levels of their development – in some teens this also results in a change in the way they do things.
“Yoga is something that every child should be taught as a life skill. It is a practice that enables them to understand and experience how their bodies and minds works, and puts maintenance of their physical and mental wellbeing within their own control”
– Dr Peter Davies, School of Integrated Health at the University of Westminster
