Changing the world one pose at a time.

• Author: Power, Theresa Anne
• Position: Athletic Arena

CHILDREN are overstimulated as they strive to keep up with the fast-paced demands of our society. As the tempo of modern life continues to accelerate due to breakthroughs in technology and new economic conditions imposed by our global economy, children are losing touch with their natural environment. Many want to slow down, but they do not know how. Kids need to learn tools to calm down, relax, and simply stop and breathe.

Stress produces a state of physical and mental tension, and levels have risen dramatically for children and teenagers in recent years. Just enough can keep you on your toes, ready to rise to the challenge, but too much can have debilitating effects on your health, contributing to--and agitating--many problems, including heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, depression, and sleep disorders.

Children need a wholesome outlet to balance their lives, and practicing simple yoga poses is the ideal way for them to unwind naturally while getting physical activity at the same time. Indeed, yoga nourishes the mind, body, and spirit and paves the way for a lifelong tradition of health and fitness.

Yoga and mindfulness provide children with skills to navigate challenges and build a core foundation that benefits mind and body well beyond their formative years. As a society, we have a responsibility to look into what means we can provide children to handle their increasingly high-paced lives; yoga is one such resource.

Yoga is an ancient science of the mind, body, and spirit. Developed in India nearly 5,000 years ago, it includes stretching exercises, meditation, and breathing techniques. Yoga keeps muscles and joints running smoothly and internal organs toned, while increasing circulation, quieting the mind, warding off disease, and helping manage pain. A secularized, form of yoga that emphasizes fitness and stress-reduction has emerged in Western countries, and most U.S. cities either have either yoga studios and/or offer yoga at many of their schools.

Yoga has become one of the most widely practiced exercise systems in the world, with 200,000,000 people practicing this art form. In the U.S., according to a 2016 Yoga in America Study conducted by Yoga Journal and Yoga Alliance, there are 36,700,000 yoga practitioners; 37% of whom have children under the age of 18 who also practice yoga. This number is up from 20,400,000 in 2012.

As for youngsters, "Yoga can be a gentle method for your child to get more physical activity and...