Yoga For Teens

Yoga, which is becoming increasingly popular for teenagers, is all about balance, strength, and harmony. Not only is yoga good for you physically, but it promotes relaxation and an overall sense of well being.

Benefits of Yoga

Yoga philosophy relies on the notion that a healthy spine creates balance and is a conducive to a sound mind. Yoga stimulates the nerves running along the spine.

When all categories of yoga poses – standing, seated, and lying down are practiced, each spinal vertebra becomes slightly separated from the ones surrounding it.

This space between the vertebrae allows the disks between them to expand, allowing energy to flow freely and gives the blood a clear passageway to circulate in a healthy way.

During puberty and the later teen years, enormous changes are taking place in the body.

Yoga practitioners believe that the chakras (metaphysical or biophysical energies) are also developing and becoming more active at this time. Imbalances of the chakras may manifest themselves in rebellion and mood swings.

The regular practice of yoga can help to maintain balance in the different chakras and keep the spirit strong and healthy, benefiting both the mind as well as the body.

Overall Health

Regular yoga training offers a host of health benefits, from alleviating menstrual cramps to clearing energy blocks that may cause headaches, sinus problems, irritability or digestive problems.

Also, the rapid growth experienced during adolescence can lead to tight muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Yoga helps ease the discomfort of “growing pains.”

Teenage Athletes

Teenage athletes often focus on strength and endurance training, but may not consider the importance of flexibility.

Yoga stretching poses lengthen muscles while improving overall strength and balance, valuable assets for every body, not just that of an athlete.

Muscle and joint flexibility helps minimise the chances of injury resulting from athletic training and competition.

A Sense of Calm

A teenager’s life is in a constant state of change. Physically, they are undergoing a huge transformation as their bodies mature.

Additionally, the social, academic, and family pressures that they experience are causes of stress. Yoga promotes a sense of calm and emotional wellness, resulting in a sense of peace and a positive outlook.

Body Acceptance

In yoga philosophy, the body is to be cared for and revered. Teenagers often feel uneasy with the rapid changes that their bodies are undergoing – yoga helps to build self confidence as well as a sense of body acceptance.

Boys, especially, tend to appreciate the way that yoga helps to build muscle, while girls enjoy the sense of grace and poise that yoga gives.

For both genders, the sense of physical well being, combined with the appreciation of a strong, healthy body make yoga an ideal choice for quality exercise.

While yoga offers many poses for everyone from beginners through those experienced in the practice, there are a number of poses that are especially well suited for teenagers.

  • Owl
  • Cat
  • Camel
  • Flamingo
  • Locust
  • Mantis
See Also
Teenage gymnast
Gymnastics for Kids and Teens
Pilates
Pilates for Teens