Another study of anorexic teens found that

…focused breathing (pranayama), movement sequences (asana), meditation (dhyana), and alert relaxation (yoga nidra)…reduced starvation-induced stress, safely reintroduced physical activity for a weakened body, minimized fatigue and… corrected distorted self-perceptions. ((as cited in, Binzen)

Further support for the benefits of yoga and adolescents is offered in this study of girls ages 14 – 17 who had suffered traumatic abuse and attended twice weekly yoga class.  The study showed a

…significant decreases in depression, anxiety, dissociation, and intrusive/avoidant symptoms…the girls overwhelmingly noted that they felt happier, more relaxed, less stressed, and more at ease in their bodies on the days they practiced yoga than on the days they did not. (as cited in, Binzen)

Teenagers, as well as adults, project their self-image through their body language.  Many adolescent girls tend to hunch their shoulders because of poor self-esteem, changes in their body (developing breasts), heavy backpacks and computer use.  Whether due to poor self-image or just poor posture the image projected is the same to the casual observer.   Rolled shoulders send the message that the teenager has a poor body image and therefore poor self-esteem.  Yoga alignment adjustments can help improve posture among teens.  For example, “…drawing your navel to your spine and lifting from the crown of your head can make you engage in proper posture” suggests Mary Kaye Chryssicas, RYT, and author of Breathe: Yoga for Teens.(as cited in, Harzog) The image we project to the outside world dictates the way in which we are treated. We see ourselves through the eyes of others whether we like it or not.  Beth Shaw, founder and president of YogaFit Training Systems Worldwide Inc., in Torrance, California, says getting in touch with their bodies through yoga just helps girls feel better. “And that manifests itself out in the world. It becomes a positive cycle,” she says. (as cited in, Harzog)

For some girls—unless they’re athletes—becoming proficient at yoga represents the first time they’ve experienced their own body strength. For most of these girls, that’s an eye-opening sensation. “You start to realize that it’s a body you can make strong, and you realize the awesome power of it,” says MaryKaye Chryssicas. “That tends to decrease the self-consciousness that teens feel about their bodies.” (as cited in, Harzog)

How Yoga Can Help

Yoga practice done in schools, in afterschool programs, or by coaches can offer children and adolescents the mind/body connection that is missing in their lives.  By connecting with their bodies through asana practice, learning breathing and meditating techniques through yoga; children will begin to be able to cope with the stress that is inherent in modern society.  It is by reducing stress that we will see a reduction in anxiety; depression; and poor self image that on the rise in children and adolescents.  The joy is it is not difficult to add yoga to our children’s daily lives.

Yoga can benefit all children in all learning situations with a little creativity.  All children learn differently, in education this is known as the theory of multiple intelligences.  Some children learn visually, some learn by hearing, and some learn through touching or doing.  Yoga can be a great tool for teachers to not only reduce stress and anxiety but also to teach to their students strengths.  For example, children that are kinesthetic or learners who learn best by doing can benefit from incorporating yoga poses into the curriculum.  A teacher in Georgia who incorporated Greek mythology and yoga is the perfect illustration.  This teacher renamed the yoga poses to the names of the Greek gods she was trying to get the children to remember and had great success and the children had fun. (Fortin). 

Other suggestions include using ‘partner yoga’ to help with classroom management through team building.  Students must rely on each other in order for the pose to be successful just as the must rely on each other to have productive days in the classroom.  In order to encourage students to listen to specific instructions, teachers can present a pose by only using words to describe the pose.  By listening to the instruction before attempting yoga pose students will become more aware of the words that are spoken and not anticipating what they think is coming.  Students must “be in the moment” in order to successfully demonstrate the pose.  Visual learners can be taught through the teacher demonstrating the pose without the verbal cues.  The students must then imitate the pose.  The possibilities are limitless. (Canibano)

Many teachers have seen the benefits of yoga in their lives and have begun to incorporate basic yoga in their classrooms.  One example of the benefits of yoga and high stakes tests is noted by school guidance counselor in Georgia, June Neal.  "We've seen an improvement in test scores and test-taking skills because their stress level is decreased after yoga", says Neal.  As for criticism that they receive regarding yoga in the classroom, Neal says, "An elementary school is more than reading, writing and arithmetic.  You do need some downtime, you do need some way to express yourself and to reduce anxiety that comes along with being in school." (as cited in, Fortin)

While children will not part with their iPods’, computers and Wii games and like it or not testing is here to stay, we can mitigate the negative effects that they can have on our children and teens.  Schools, teachers, administrators and parents can help children by offering yoga.  Yoga does not require an hour long class at the local recreation center.  It can be a ten minute instructed breathing techniques before a test in the classroom.   Yoga can be reading a book on animals to a young child and imitating the animals on the floor.  Yoga can be a mom and child watching a yoga video and practicing together in the family room.  It can mean a simple meditation instruction given to a child who is struggling to quiet down and go to sleep.  The investment is minimal but the positive results can be significant.