By Sarah Therrien, Staff Writer/Advertising Manager
High school and college can be the most stress inducing periods in a young adult’s life. With the hecticness of attempting to fit in, get good grades, and balance a job and/or family all at the same time, teens are constantly finding ways to release built up stress, sometimes coping unhealthily.
But more than 1.7 million children and teens have found a healthy stress relieving solution: yoga. It has quickly become one of the most valuable, healthy, and relevant tools for teenagers and adults looking to cope with the stress of their lifestyle. The benefits that yoga offers to mind and body health are becoming more and more recognized as people begin to utilize it and realize just how effective the practice really is.
The number of yoga participants has risen sharply over the past decade, as the number of yogis has increased by 400,000. Although often seen as a feminine practice, widely known male athletes like Tom Brady, Shaquille O’Neal, Lebron James, Russell Wilson, Blake Griffin, and many more are beginning to express their positive experiences with yoga, and the idea of practicing it is becoming more gender neutral every day.
Yoga is beneficial for hundreds of reasons for anyone at any age. If practiced regularly, yoga improves mood, self-esteem, body image, flexibility, coordination, balance, and strength. It also lengthens and builds lean muscle. It has been proven that if people begin to follow yoga at a young age, it also helps development of the prefrontal cortex in the brain, which improves attention span, ability to solve problems, and think efficiently.
Yogarithm Studio owner and instructor Melissa Brown of Kenosha concurs with the research findings that show the many benefits of yoga.
“Yoga became an integral part of my life in the early 2000s. I longed for an activity that would physically move me while providing a creative outlet for my mind,” Brown states. “Within weeks of practicing, I began feeling healthier and happier. The physical aspect was evident in gained strength and stamina. The mental component was realized over time. As the positive words that were weaved into the practice began intercepting my negative thoughts off the mat, I found I was managing stress with ease.”
As for the benefits of beginning yoga at a young age, Brown also sees the advantage to be gained.
“If one is able to begin while young, yoga can provide additional benefits such as a means of learning positive stress-coping skills at a time when mental demands can be high,” Brown said.
As for the physical benefits of implementing yoga into lifestyle at a young age, Brown says there is improved athletic performance, increased muscle development, and a good way to maintain the natural flexibility one has while young.
“The earlier in life one begins a yoga practice, the more beneficial to the individual.” Brown concludes.