“We create a therapeutic space using breathing and yoga for young people to feel better about themselves.”
Charlotta Martinus, my incredible teen yoga teacher, and Director of the Teen Yoga Foundation
It’s so hard to explain what we, as yoga teachers, actually do but the above quote really resonated with me because no one leaves a yoga class EVER without feeling better, both mentally and physically. It’s so much more than just a physical practice.
At @TeenYoga Foundation and @yogainschools we deal with the issues that the teachers don’t have time to deal with, or things not in their remit as a teacher.
In doing so, we have found that teens suddenly develop their own autonomy and then teach postures and breathing exercises to their parents or family members. This has a massively profound effect on families too. So, we have this compassionate ripple effect spreading through our communities. The power of what we do is MIGHTY!
Not long ago, I attended a webinar with Charlotta, titled “How can we help ourselves lead more contented online lives?”. Let’s face it, social media is an essential part of growing up now. One of the things discussed was that young people don’t always understand that different intonations are used by different people so a message can easily be misunderstood. It doesn’t mean their best friend hates them, or is being short with them. At the @TeenYoga Foundation and @yogainschools, our job is to highlight that sending a text message is much easier compared to saying something in person. Also, to remind them that a text or DM is just a form of shorthand to communicate, and they probably need to have an in-person, real life, chat with that person.
But yet, social media can also be very inclusive and can unite us too. So, it’s important to explain this because many young people manage their online life much better than they do their real lives post-Covid.
I found it fascinating to learn that the main issues resulting from social media during covid for young people were mainly:
Loneliness
Sleep
Concentration
And some bullying
Remember when you were on that loud Zoom call during Covid, then it ends…… and suddenly it was really quiet and you felt alone? This can have more of an impact on a teen.
Furthermore, how is a young person supposed to deal with life if they haven’t slept properly and their perception of reality is distorted? The Teen Yoga Foundation and Yoga In Schools has taught young people with some serious mental health challenges, but after a regular yoga practise, their mental health improves dramatically. It’s POWERFUL stuff!
Following Covid, there are now more issues with posture – i.e. hunching over a screen (which is really bad for people with asthma), they develop “laptop chin” where the chin sticks out from screen reading, obesity has increased, and more young people are wearing glasses.
Bullying at school can lead to mental health problems post 30 years old. So, it is vital we reassure our young people they are worthy and valid human being.
If you would like to DONATE to our cause so we can continue our important work because young people are our future, here is a link to the Teen Yoga Foundation:
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