Is teaching Yoga to young people the answer to our anxiety epidemic?
Young People’s Mental Health is reaching ‘epidemic levels.’ The Covid pandemic has thrown society into turmoil, putting strain on existing mental health services with long lasting and worrying consequences for young people.
In a survey by the mental health charity Young Minds, (2111 participants up to age 25) 83% said the pandemic had made their conditions worse.
Young Minds also report that:
1 in 8 children have a diagnosable mental health disorder – that’s roughly 3 children in every classroom
1 in 6 young people aged 16-24 has symptoms of a common mental disorder such as depression or an anxiety disorder
In 2017, suicide was the most common cause of death for both boys (16.2% of all deaths) and girls (13.3%) aged between 5 and 19
Nearly half of 17-19-year olds with a diagnosable mental health disorder has self-harmed or attempted suicide at some point, rising to 52.7% for young women
These statistics are shocking on every level. However this pandemic has also issued a wake up call to adults from all walks of life. With heightening anxiety over income and job security, loved ones and personal health, Covid has also led many to re-evaluate their pathway and longer term health and wellbeing.
We have seen an increase in teachers, educators and social service professionals applying to train with us, and their dedication to the young people in their care is palpable.
Could teaching Yoga support your existing role?
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The need to introduce wellbeing techniques, such as Yoga, at an early stage of education is well founded. Yoga in schools can:
Provide students with healthy ways to express and regulate their emotional and mental triggers
Promote how feeling relaxed can help support teaching, learning and healthy social interaction
Increase student’s connection with the present moment and highlight how Yoga can help to develop mindfulness techniques
Create a communally safe environment for students and staff to be open and honest
Ease anxiety, frustration and tension
Boost focus, concentration and reduces symptoms of tiredness and hyperactivity
Encourage collaboration and connectivity with peers and colleagues
Enhance physical strength, improve posture and flexibility as well as stimulate the immune, digestive, and endocrinal systems
Improve levels of self-esteem and confidence alongside encouraging respect for others
Make loops of learning with the national PSHE, Science, PE and Citizenship curricula
It’s not just students who benefit; pressing the reset button through Yoga practice pays dividends for all members of school communities. With 1 in 3 teachers leaving the teaching profession within five years of training, the rate of attrition is untenable.
Never before has there been a more fertile landscape for change. Yoga is only one spoke in the wheel, but research proves its limitless benefits.
Where’s the evidence?
One of many randomised controlled trials showed that students who participated in a 45-minute, daily mindful Yoga programme over twelve weeks, showed a significant reduction in students’ negative behavioural responses to stress, compared to those who did not attend the sessions.
Further studies have shown increased levels of resilience and reduced incidents of bullying and self-harm behaviours. You can read more about the wide variety of positive effects of Yoga on student and teacher wellbeing, by clicking here.
If you are seeking to vary and enhance your skills in your current role, we have deliberately created a Yoga Alliance accredited, flexible, online learning platform to help you upskill whilst continuing your career and balancing your family life.
Don’t just take our word for it. Check out what our graduates have to say about training with us.
“I have really enjoyed the course and highly recommend it, not just for aspiring teachers but also for anyone who wants to test themselves and learn more about yoga. Initially what appealed to me was to learn from Diane and Kara, to learn more about yoga, and to test myself.
The course delivered on this and more. It has been a privilege to learn from Diane and Kara, their wealth of knowledge on all aspects of yoga is amazing and the level of care shown for students is exceptional. The process is really well thought through and the development of everyone who has taken part in the course has been amazing.”
If you want to learn more about what training with us involves then read our blog on what it’s like to train with us online.