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26.2.2023
Yoga is a life skill. It can be particularly useful for teenagers who are dealing with the stresses of exams and study whilst navigating the hormonal and lifestyle changes that we go through at that stage of life.
I discovered yoga when I was 16 years old. I was given a yoga book and I thought I’d give it a try. I had no expectations, but as I started to try the poses, I felt a sense of achievement and connection with my body. I found it interesting, challenging and fun! Obviously, there are many other benefits from yoga that you observe over time, but initially it was enjoying the poses and the way they made me feel that attracted me.
I had such a positive experience of yoga in my teens that I took a training course with Susannah Hoffman on teaching yoga to teenagers in 2016. As with all clients, teaching yoga to teenagers is about helping them find a way to practise that is beneficial for them rather than doing poses that are “for teenagers.” Yoga is about what suits the individual.
Teenage years are a time of change. It can be a period of disconnect from our bodies, our breath, our well-being, and from the environment around us. There is also more disconnect generally in society today as we find ourselves spending more time communicating on-line than face to face. Yoga can help us to find connection back to our bodies and to create a base from where we can feel more grounded. Having a sense of grounding and stability helps us to deal with change and to become more connected to ourselves, our surroundings, and others.
Not all teenagers like the sports they do at school. This can lead to a belief that they are not good at sport, so exercise gets neglected. Yoga is a movement practice that is accessible and builds self- confidence. It can be as gentle or as strong as you choose, and there is a style of yoga for everyone. Yoga might be the only physical activity that appeals to some teenagers whilst for others it might be combined with other activities.
Yoga is not competitive; we all work at our own level and have our own strengths and weaknesses. There are no reports or grades that need to be achieved in a yoga class. It is a relaxing, supportive practice that is open to all levels of physical ability.
As teenagers go through growth spurts, they can suddenly lose flexibility, feel awkward in their body, and their proprioception changes. A yoga practice can help reduce the impact of these changes and can help them to be more accepting of them.
The amount of work that teenagers do on computers can leave them with stiff shoulders, poor posture, and fatigue. A well-chosen yoga practice can address these issues and help to improve flexibility, balance, strength, co-ordination, breathing, digestion, and circulation. Yoga is also known to help with stress, anxiety, sleep and relaxation. It helps to improve our overall awareness of the body, breath, and mind.
Breath awareness and relaxation techniques are very helpful during exams. Breathing techniques are particularly useful when coping with pre-exam nerves and yoga can help with relaxation after an exam.
Simple techniques that we learn from yoga help us to look after our physical and mental health and are extremely valuable skills to learn. The self-awareness we gain from yoga helps us to deal with the challenges that come our way in life.
I teach yoga in person and on Zoom. If you would like an introduction to yoga, either as a group or an individual session, I would love to hear from you. I offer 30 or 60-minute sessions and can work around your timetable.
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