Benefits of Teen Yoga Stretch Beyond Physical

The teenage years are some of the best years of your life, as it is a time for discovery, and yet they are also sometimes some of the most challenging years of your life.  Dealing with growing up, school demands, and social changes can lead to increased stress, anxiety, and concentration issues.  This is especially true for teen girls, but of course does not discount teen boys.  Sports and other physical fitness activities are a great way to channel these mental roadblocks.  However, 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, especially for teen girls, can be very valuable.

The physical benefits of teen yoga are vast and include:

Builds strength of muscles and bones

Increases muscle flexibility and mobility

Helps improve posture through healthy movement patterns and ideal posture alignment

Assists in development of coordination and balance

Develops skills to relax and control breath awareness

These physical benefits are valuable to teens because they help prevent health related issues caused by being overweight and instill a healthy fitness lifestyle in them while they are still young.  While these physical benefits are great, teens also need methods to channel their mental barriers.  Balancing the stresses of school, a social life, peer pressures, and other daily demands can be very challenging for teens.  Yoga is a healthy way to work out these pressures.

The mental benefits of teen yoga include but are not limited to:

Techniques to manage stress by redirecting thoughts and calming the nervous system

Improves decision making by teaching teens to make choices that respect themselves and others

Develops concentration skills by helping the ability to focus through breath and bodywork

Helps provide a healthy body image by providing a strengthened internal perspective

Helps strengthen self-image/self-esteem in a place free from media and other cultural influences

Assists in learning to manage stress/anxiety/depression by providing a healthy way to explore the body and mind.  Breath control and muscle relaxation is involved.

Teen yoga is a valuable alternative for teens that do not benefit well from competitive sports as well as for teens who wish to add a mind, body, and soul workout in addition to their competitive sport.   The physical and mental benefits are definitely vast and effective.