My Thoughts On Teens Living In America And Why They Should Practice Yoga & Mindfulness Everyday and How To Talk To Them So They Listen.

(photography by Debie HanLee)

I am a yoga teacher, mindfulness teacher, art teacher, photographer and master gardener. I teach all age 2-102+ in all community. I have the training & years of experience to work with all abilities.

I have gained much experience while working (18+ years) with elementary, middle school age, and teens in and around various neighborhoods in Miami- Dade County, including: Liberty City, Coral Gables, Kendall, Pinecrest, Cutler Bay, Homestead. I have worked in all types of environment, all settings and along side the many cultural backgrounds. I have come to find out real quickly that each city in Miami is different to work in, That each school is different. That the students’ behavior are very different, their eating habits, behaviors, moods, and even their hygiene and so much more…and it is due to the wide range of nationalities, their backgrounds, their lifestyles…

My scariest and greatest findings…..

I have noticed that most teens are the toughest set of humans to work with! Depending on their environment they are angry, sad, ignorant to their future & their surroundings, mad at the world, easily disappointed, easily angry at simple things in life, easily attacks their peers, rude, disrespectful, clammed up, withdrawn, refuses to listen to adults, refuses to speak to adults, talk-back, doesn’t follow through, and the list goes on and on…….scary to be around if you do not know how to stand on your feet, and yet they are resilient.

…. then, I have noticed that it all depends on the teen’s surounding, life-style, culture, parenting styles, religion, influences, gender, social media, internet, news, neighorhood, diet, exercise, drugs, medication, stress of growing up, pessimistic mentality, interactions, family life, school life, social life, physical ability and even love…. again, the list goes on…..

So here goes… it’s true…

Yoga and mindfulness practice helps children and teens in several ways no matter who you are, where you are from, what you’ve been up to, or even your habits and lifestyle:

1. Yoga will improve fitness and physical health.

Students participating in yoga develop a strong connection to body awareness and movement. The poses help improve coordinate, balance, strength, and flexibility.

2. Yoga will Reduce stress and anxiety.

High school can be a stressful period with both academic and personal challenges. Yoga, through breath and awareness, provides space to step back and regulate your response to stress in a calm and thoughtful manner.

3. Yoga will improve optimism.

Studies have shown that yoga can help build a sense of optimism. During a time when children and teens are looking toward their future, yoga can build a sense of hopefulness for the future.

4. Yoga will improve focus and school performance.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common developmental disorders in children and adolescents and affects 1 in 10 children. Studies have found that children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder who practiced yoga once or twice weekly can improve their behavior as well as school performance.

5. Yoga will improve self-esteem and body image

High school can be a formative time in which teens often struggle with body image issues, peer pressure, and bullying. Yoga creates an accepting and safe environment, rooted in the principle of non-judgment. The practice helps you feel more connected to and accepting of your body.

6. Yoga will encourage creativity.

Yoga encourages creativity and playfulness, developing not just physical flexibility but flexibility of the mind as well.

Yoga that is taught with mindfulness has significant advantages over traditional physical activity. Yoga has been found to reduce impulsivity, increase patience, and improve the ability to regulate attention.

GETTING THEM TO HAVE FUN AND LIVE FULLY, first, you have to talk to them!(OMG!!!)

So, as a yoga teacher while working with kids and teens for over 18 years, I am teaching, while talking and listening, I kept making notes and doing my research.

I did my research, then I came upon a list that is very helpful,,, some ways that will help to break through the ice, the wall that blocks you from any teen whom may be going through the moment… DO THIS WITHOUT JUDGEMENT. No need to dig deep. Just ask questions then listen then let it go and go to the next question. That all!

Start here – Here is just a small way you can help kids and teens:

Let’s move beyond the basic “How was your day?” and consider this list of  50+questions to help get your kids talking:

1. What do you like daydreaming about?
2. What makes you happy?
3. What have your friends been up to?
4. If you could do anything right now, what would you do?
5. What do you look forward to when you wake up?
6. Do you ever think about renaming the colors of your crayons?
7. What character makes you laugh the most?
8. If you opened a store, what would you sell?
9. What’s your Superhero name and what powers do you have?
10. You’re at the beach. What’s the first thing you do?
11. If you could grow anything in the yard, what would it be?
12. What make you feel brave?

What scares you?

13. What makes you feel loved?
14. How do you show people you care?
15. What does it feel like when you get a hug you?
16. If your stuffed animals could talk, what would they say?
17. If you could give $100 to a charity, which would you choose?
18. How would you design a treehouse?
19. What do you enjoy giving people?
20. Did you smile or laugh extra today?
21. If you wrote a book, what would it be about?
22. If you drew everything that came to your head, what would you be drawing right now?
23. If you designed clothes, would would they look like?
24. How do you best like helping others?
25. Pretend you’re a chef, and tell me about your restaurant. What foods do you serve?
26. What do you think you’re going to dream about tonight?
27. What makes you feel thankful?
28. Where would you like to travel? How would you get there?
29. What sounds do you like?
30. If you made a cave in the woods, what would be inside it?
31. If you could know your spirit, what is it? What does he look like?

32. If you could ask your spirit animal any question, what would you ask

33. You’re outside for a whole day: what would you do?

34. What makes the best fort?

35. What makes you feel energized?

36. If you were in a play, what would your character be like?

37. How do you think animals communicate?

38. What are some of the best things about nature?

39. You’re a photographer for a day, what would you take pictures of?

40. What’s a memory that makes you happy?41. What bugs you?

41. Describe a great day. What are you doing that makes it special?

42. What animal would make a great driver?

43. What makes your friends so awesome?

44. What makes you so awesome?

46. Do you have any inventions in your brain.

47. Do you think it’d be fun to learn another language?

48. What are three things you want to do this summer?

49. If you could make up a new holiday, what would it be?

50. What makes someone smart? What makes you smart?

51. If you had friends all over the world, how would you keep in touch?

I started out as a preschool teacher for 12 years then I became a Vinyasa/Power yoga E-ryt200, Yin yoga in 2015, Now I am a Certified Insight Mindfulness Teacher. Certified UFIFAS Master Gardener. I am an artist with a deep love for photography. Before the pandemic for 4 years I taught nutrition & mindfulness for University of Florida (360 Grant & 4-H, Miami, Florida). I am on a mission to get mindfulness in schools.

If you have questions

Call me at (786) 267-1203

Or email me at freespirityogis@outlook.com