Serving Teens

This summer I completed parenting of my children.  As of May 26^th I am now the parent of young adults.  I have taught many years of yoga to my girls, their classmates and other teens in both the Hawaii and Boulder communities.  They have ranged from the ultra-privileged to children in low-income housing to children of varied economic backgrounds who are labeled as “at risk.”  Despite their differences, most have been interested in the fun of trying to achieve yoga poses, in talk about practical nutrition and in relaxing fully during a guided meditation.  There have been few who are under so much stress or confused by substance abuse that the teachings don’t seem relevant to their lives.  This is very sad for me.  To me it is always fun to be in a room with youth who have never done any yoga, who laugh when they do back bends or who learn that they can do handstands even if they are wearing skinny jeans.  It’s delightful to work with young men in baggy pants and t-shirts and do advanced yoga poses that look so much like break dance moves.  With my own two daughters who have grown up in a house where hanging upside down and taking deep breaths was an everyday occurrence, I even delight when to whatever their complaints are, my most popular response is “do a backbend” and I can be assured of getting a rolling eyes response.  I find that most teens love a challenge, and that yoga provides a great physical challenge, plus a welcome relaxation at the end of the session.