It’s 4:30 on a beautiful summer afternoon. My 10 year-old just had a mini-melt down. She couldn’t find the DVD she desperately wanted.
You’ve been there, right? They get something in their mind and they must see it RIGHT NOW? Well, she wasn’t looking for Frozen (thank God, I might hurt someone). She was searching for Shanti Generation, her Yoga for Youth Peacemakers DVD, because she needed it.
Practicing her favorite pose – Camel
She needed the calm, the exercise, the breathing, the feeling good all over that comes with a little yoga at the end of the day.
I found the DVD. I didn’t make her try to calm down without it or get upset with her for screaming.
Look closely at the picture. Don’t look at the pose, but see if you can see the look on her face. She’s peacefully smiling.
So when she needs yoga, she gets yoga. And I unroll my mat and join her.
Here are some of the benefits of yoga {that your tween really needs}:
- Promotes a healthy body image and builds self-esteem. Mastering a pose like camel (above) or learning to balance in crow pose, is an accomplishment worth being proud of. Yoga helps us feel comfortable in our own skin while striving to learn more.
- Improves concentration. It’s a great way to balance all that tech time!
- Grace. At a time in their lives when their bodies are changing, yoga can help them find their gracefulness.
- Increases circulation, improves flexibility and strengthens muscle. It’s great for alignment too, so maybe you won’t have to remind them to stand up straight all the time (which will only me met with an eye roll anyway).
- Cultivates a peaceful state of mind. Deep breathing exercises calm the nervous system.
It’s fun. It just is. Giving our kids the tools to manage stress or pent up energy is a gift. It will help them find a little quiet in our busy world.
