Remember that awkward phase that so many of us went through? Being unsure of our bodies, trying to figure out how to be comfortable with our changing looks, and not knowing if it’s possible to express ourselves without judgment? Believe it or not, these types of issues can be addressed through guided yoga classes geared towards tweens.
It’s true, yoga isn’t just for adults; many of the same stress reducing, mind calming, and confidence boosting poses are also made for young adults, aka “tweens.” In addition to incorporating the main aspects of an adult yoga class, tween classes also incorporate the playful side of children’s personalities by using books, stories, games, music, and laughter.
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Alice Balzarini, a registered yoga teacher who instructs two tween classes per week, said she regularly uses books as springboards for open discussions, non-competitive games such as “Mother Tree” (which resembles “Red Light, Green Light,” but instead you freeze like a tree), and the tween yogis’ imagination to create new stories.
“Adult yoga is about ‘letting go, connecting within, and breathing.’ All of those things apply to a tween class, but that age group generally loves to be playful as well,” said Balzarini.
“Activities are chosen to delve into and new ideas come up all the time when a teacher is open to engaging the children as true co-creators of the class, not just participants,” said Balzarini. She herself incorporates music from her yoga album, Awesommme Ommm by Miss Alice, that was created especially for kids. One of her songs even guides young listeners into Warrior II and Triangle.
Traditional asanas, or poses, such as Eagle and Triangle are also practiced, but with playful names that may go along with the class’ yoga story of the moment. So Warrior II may turn into a “surfer” or a “hero,” thereby involving the kids with not only where the class is headed, but also what poses the class includes.
In addition to the playful benefits that help kids grow a strong and healthy body, tween yogis also learn how to connect to their breath and become aware of their body. Practicing yoga at an early age helps introduce them to a healthy lifestyle where the relationship between mind and body is a positive one.
“Connecting to the breath enables them to regulate their mood and leads to a more peaceful way of being in the world,” said Balzarani. “They are encouraged to take their deep breaths off the mat to help manage stress, whether that be from school, family, or self-judgment.”
We may have thought that yoga was something only adults were into, but the same benefits that we feel when we’re both on and off the mat are also valuable tools for tweens as well. I can’t help but think how much calmer and happier my tween years would have been if I had the confidence building and stress reducing techniques that I have learned throughout my yoga training.
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Melissa Beveridge is a 200 hour registered yoga teacher, certified integrative health coach, aspiring gardener, and writer in Monmouth County. She’s passionate about sharing her lifestyle and combining her love of food, health, and wellness into her writing. Follow her adventures through New Jersey at MBeeWell.com.You can also find her on Twitter @MBeeWell, and on Instagram @mbeewell.
