Why Yoga Is More Than Stretching – It’s a Lifeline for Emotional Wellbeing
If your teen is struggling with mood swings, low self-esteem, or lack of motivation, it can feel overwhelming as a parent. The emotional ups and downs that often come with adolescence can feel like an emotional rollercoaster, leaving you unsure of how to help. When your teen is dealing with these challenges, it can be difficult to know where to start or what will make a difference.
How Yoga Helps
Yoga offers so much more than just physical exercise—it’s a powerful tool for emotional wellbeing. Through yoga, teens can reset their bodies and minds. Regular practice helps:
Balance hormones, reducing mood swings and irritability
Improve sleep, leading to more energy and a better mood
Boost self-esteem by building strength, flexibility, and body awareness
Offer tools for emotional regulation, helping teens manage stress and anxiety more effectively
Yoga gives teens a safe, non-judgmental space where they can reconnect with themselves, learn to manage their emotions, and build resilience. For many teens, yoga provides an escape from the pressures of school, friends, and social expectations, offering them a moment of peace and reflection.
My Happy Place:
One 15-year-old shared, “Yoga is the only place I don’t feel judged. It’s like a break from my brain.” For this teen, yoga offered a reprieve from constant self-criticism and the overwhelming pressures of daily life. It became a safe space for them to focus on their breath and body, away from the noise in their mind.
This is a common experience for many teens who struggle with mental health. Yoga gives them a chance to tune in to themselves, without the external pressures that often make them feel judged or disconnected.
Research Back-Up
Research from the University of Cincinnati shows that yoga can significantly reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety in adolescents. In one study, teens who practiced yoga experienced a notable improvement in mood, a reduction in depressive symptoms, and an increase in resilience. Yoga provides a natural, holistic approach to emotional wellbeing, without the side effects that can come from other interventions.
Breathing Exercise to Try at Home
Here’s a simple but effective breathing exercise you can try with your teen. It’s called the “Box Breath,” and it’s perfect for calming the mind and improving focus.
“Box Breath”
Ask your teen to sit in a comfortable position with their spine straight and shoulders relaxed.
Instruct them to inhale through their nose for a count of 4 seconds.
Hold the breath for 4 seconds.
Exhale through their mouth for 4 seconds.
Hold the exhale for 4 seconds.
Repeat for 3–5 rounds.
This simple technique helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system, calming the body and mind. It’s a great tool to use before or after school, or whenever your teen needs to manage stress or anxiety.
Mindfulness Practice: “Gratitude Journal”
This simple mindfulness practice can help shift your teen’s focus toward the positive aspects of their life, which can help improve mood and self-esteem. Encourage your teen to keep a gratitude journal, where they write down three things they are thankful for each day. Over time, this practice can help them cultivate a more positive mindset and boost emotional resilience.
Try This Yoga Sequence at Home
Here’s a yoga sequence designed to help your teen reset and manage their emotions:
Downward-Facing Dog (2 minutes)
From hands and knees, have your teen lift their hips up and back, creating an inverted “V” shape with their body.
Encourage them to press their heels toward the floor and stretch their arms forward, focusing on lengthening their spine.
Warrior II (2 minutes)
Stand with feet wide apart. Turn one foot out, bend the knee, and stretch arms out to the sides, palms facing down.
Have your teen focus on their breath as they hold the pose, feeling grounded and strong.
Legs Up the Wall (2–3 minutes)
Lie on the floor with legs resting up the wall, a folded blanket under the hips for comfort. Let the arms rest at the sides or on the belly. Why it helps: The inversion calms the nervous system and encourages stillness, while the wall provides a reassuring sense of containment.