Teenagers need yoga.
As a high school teacher, I spend a lot of time with teenagers. I see their struggles. They are depressed and anxious. They are stressed and overwhelmed. Forget about self-love and acceptance, they’re just trying to survive.
The thing is, yoga can help. Through yoga, we can teach teens to manage stress. We can teach them about resilience, presence, and balance. We can teach them to love themselves and accept others.
How can we not share this life-changing practice with teens?
I know. Teens can be scary. They have a reputation for being disrespectful–obnoxious even. But they are just like us inside. They want to be accepted and loved. They want to be good people, but they need someone to lead the way.
More and more schools are becoming open to the idea of incorporating yoga in classrooms. Some high school teachers use yoga as a brain break during their classes. Some teachers start class with a meditation to set a mindful tone for the rest of the period. Some schools are even offering yoga classes as an elective course or as an alternative to traditional physical education. Teachers, administrators, and students are discovering the benefits of yoga, and it’s a beautiful thing.
You might be a high school teacher who happens to be passionate about yoga, or maybe you are an experienced yoga teacher interested in offering classes to teens. Either way, these 5 tips can help you get started.
1. Establish clear expectations
Most teenagers have never been in a yoga studio. They likely don’t know what to expect or what is expected of them. It’s important to introduce the basic structure of a yoga class and outline clear expectations for behavior.
Be detailed! Let them know how to dress for a yoga class. Describe what they should do as they enter the class and while they are waiting for class to begin (chat quietly, clean your mat).
It is also important to discuss what it means to be respectful of others and themselves. Teenagers, just like adults, often compare themselves to others, so talk to them about honoring their bodies and accepting their uniqueness. Explain to them that yoga is a practice, and talk to them about striving for progress and not perfection.
2. Start with the basics
Before I started teaching yoga to teenagers, I made assumptions about them. I assumed, because of their youth, they would be flexible, fit, and full of energy.
I was wrong.
Most of the teenagers I teach are not all that flexible. They suffer from all kinds of aches, pains, and injuries. If I ask them to hold plank pose or (Heaven forbid) bring their right knee to right elbow, I am met with a chorus of “My wrists!” and “Oh my God that hurts…” as they fall to the floor breathing heavily. I’m not exaggerating.
On the other hand, just like with an adult class, you will have some students who are ready for a challenge right from day one. I suggest keeping the poses and sequence simple, and offering more advanced options along the way for students who want to step it up a notch.
Keep cues straightforward and clear. Complicated, flowery cues can be confusing for any beginner. Instead, demonstrate every pose, and use direct language like, “Bend both knees, and sit back as if you are sitting in a chair. Bring both arms overhead.” Don’t over complicate things. Simpler directions will help your students move confidently through the sequence.
3. Keep it moving
I suggest holding each pose for no longer than 5 breaths. I find if I ask teens to hold a pose too long, they become uncomfortable with the silence. This is the point when they start giggling or striking up a conversation with their neighbors. Yoga is awesome because it can help us improve focus and concentration, but this won’t happen right away, especially with teens.
Another strategy is to look for places to add some dynamic movement, and teach your students to move with their own breath. For example, instead of holding Warrior II for 5 breaths, try this: Instruct students to rise up on the inhale by straightening the front leg and bringing both arms overhead. On the exhale, instruct them to return to Warrior II by lowering the arms and bending the front leg. Have them repeat this movement several times, moving with their own breath.
As students become more experienced and mature, they will be more comfortable with silence and holding poses longer. Until then, hold their attention and help them build concentration skills by moving the sequence along at a steady (but not super fast) pace.
4. Help them make off the mat connections
Take advantage of this amazing opportunity to share yoga philosophy with teens. I use a “quote of the day” to start conversations about living in the present moment, gratitude, kindness, and forgiveness. You don’t have to launch into a sermon. Just plant a seed. Get them thinking. Give them encouragement to get through a tough day. They need you and your wisdom more than you (or they) realize.
5. Expect them to act like teenagers
Teenagers are not adults. Their brains aren’t even fully developed yet. I’m telling you this so you won’t be surprised when the name of a pose makes them giggle uncontrollably, or when they feel self-conscious in Downward Facing Dog. They might even roll their eyes or otherwise act like they don’t even want to be in the yoga class they signed up for.
Forgive them. Accept them as they are. Don’t take yourself too seriously, and don’t take any of it personally.
They might not show it, but they appreciate you. They are learning and growing all because you chose to spend an hour with them. They can feel that you care.
Teach from a place of love and presence, and you can’t go wrong.
