Yoga for Youth
My initial reason for practicing yoga was physical health. Our children are spending more time than ever sitting on computers and less time moving, stretching, and paying attention to their bodies. Practicing yoga reminds us of the importance to do so and it gives us flexibility and good habits.
Once I became more serious about my practice and studies, I learned yoga could be much more than just a physical practice. I realized it was another part of mindfulness, mindful movement, and how coordinating the breath with movement had a healing and centering effect. I wanted to bring this to youth because we are living in challenging times and there is a lot of pain and suffering.
Our mindful movement practice is healing in itself and allows us to slow down, get centered and prepare ourselves for mindful sitting and breathing. The students say it can change their mood; they may come to class in a bad mood or feeling down and they leave feeling more grounded, sometimes in a better mood, but definitely feeling a shift. They say yoga makes them feel strong, safe, powerful, and kind to themselves.
