The chart below from the Journal of Pediatric Orthopedics illustrates the increase in the sports related injury in children and adolescents ages 11 – 16.

The reason for the increase in injury during adolescence is growth spurts. The bones tend to grow fast, and the muscles stay a little tighter. This makes it difficult to maintain flexibility in adolescence. The emphasis that yoga puts on flexibility can really help with that problem, says Kevin Walter, MD, pediatric sports medicine specialist at the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. (as cited in,  Harzog)

The muscle tightness caused by growth spurts can cause tension headaches and body aches.  Increasing flexibility through yoga can help to reduce some of these symptoms.   In addition, an increase in flexibility can significantly reduce sport-related injuries.

Another benefit is that yoga can help children gain body awareness.  Body awareness can help the student-athlete excel in their competitive sport.  Along with body awareness student-athletes increase their ability to focus and clear their mind of negative self talk.  While sports can foster positive self esteem gained through the adulations received from spectators, yoga provides positive self esteem achieved from within.  Yoga is not about being the best or winning but honoring the body and getting connected with it.  Furthermore, sports can bring an adrenaline rush that can produce stress while yoga, through breathing and meditation, offers stress relief. 

 Adolescents and Self Esteem

It is during our teen years that we begin to explore and define our identity, to carve out a path for ourselves, to practice the skill of making life choices. During these tender years, we face challenges that often accompany us into adulthood--of self-acceptance, adjusting to change, and dealing with conflict. "Adolescents, above all else, are trying to define who they are, even though their parents, peers, and the media create strong stories about who they are supposed to be," says Kim Tanzer, a Palo Alto, California, yoga teacher who works with teens. (as cited in Busch)

Adolescents and lack of self esteem is not a new concept and it is not unique to this generation but through television and magazine advertisements as well as cyber ads this generation is exposed to more than its fair share of images of “perfect” models and actresses.   Enter any of the clothing stores in the mall targeting teens (Hollister, Abercrombie, American Eagle etc.) and you will see partially clothed, beautiful, and thin; seemingly perfect models plastered on all the walls.  If teens did not start out with a poor self image, one trip to the mall could cure them.  These images and advertisements are targeting even younger children ages 6 through 12 years old, in stores like Limited II, where similarly perfect models are displayed. 

Adolescents who participate in a regular yoga practice will benefit from increased body awareness and flexibility.  In addition, teens will gain an overall feeling of well-being, self-acceptance, as well as a decrease in anxiety, depression and hostility (Bridges & Madlem).  “The primary benefit of yoga is enhanced self-esteem.  You can’t do yoga and not improve at it”, says Temmi Sears, Director of YogaBuds.  (as cited in Bridges & Madlem).

Through an increase in body awareness teens can discover their flexibility through the use of poses that rely on movement and their own body weight.  Yoga encourages acceptance of our bodies by honoring the accomplishments and acknowledging the limitations that is inherent in every person.  Yoga discourages competition with other students and encourages students to acknowledge the growth that is made during each session.  Additionally, yoga gives the practitioner time to quiet their mind.  Breathing techniques are taught that help students quiet their minds and meditation is encouraged.  Teaching teens how to quiet their thoughts allows them to focus from within and thereby increases self esteem.

There is empirical evidence to support the assertion that yoga can help with self esteem and relieve stress and anxiety in teens.  In the study discussed below teens with eating disorders attended yoga class as part of their psychiatric treatment programs.  The study reported the following data.

Typically suffering from a lack of self-esteem, nearly 75% reported an increase in well-being. They used the words “relaxed,” “calm,” “energized” and “more awake” to describe how they felt after class. (Fury &  Kaley-Isley)