Yoga is well known to offer a wide range of physical and psychological benefits to yogis of all ages. However, there are specific benefits to practicing yoga during the teen years. Adolescence is a tumultuous time of life and it is common for mental health problems to surface during these years. Recent research suggests that yoga classes provide specific psychological benefits to kids in high school.
The research was conducted by Harvard Medical School at a high school in Massachusetts. For the purposes of the study, they assigned students randomly to either a typical PE class or yoga. In the yoga program, the students learned asanas, pranayama breathing and meditation.
Researchers assessed the students and found that the group of students taking yoga had fewer negative emotions after participating in the program, while students in the traditional PE class showed increased anxiety and negative emotions. The students in the yoga program showed a decrease in negative emotions and anxiety or no change.
This really isn’t so surprising, given the number of studies that showed similar results with adults. What makes this study important is the increased awareness of the need to emphasize wellness, relaxation, mindfulness and meditation to our teens. These coping skills and stress management benefits will provide greater resilience for them as they move into their adult lives.
Already some schools in a few areas of the country have begun to incorporate yoga into the school day. Initiatives such as Yoga Recess and inclusion of yoga in PE programs are increasing. A growing number of PE programs are moving away from traditional games played in gym class and toward teaching students lifelong fitness and wellness activities that they can carry with them into the future. Yoga fits this philosophy and can provide our kids with important coping skills during the years when they need them.