Mindfulness for Teens

"According to the latest research from the American Psychological Association, teens report higher levels of stress than adults do (at least during the school year). And almost half of teens say they’re not doing enough to manage their stress. In fact, the two most common “strategies” teens use to cope with stress are playing video games and surfing the Internet.

Mindfulness (present-moment, nonjudgmental awareness) is a powerful tool that teens can use to manage their stress. Research indicates that when teens consistently practice mindfulness, it lowers rates of anxiety and depression, and leads to better sleep, stronger relationships, and increased self-awareness, all of which can go a long way toward ameliorating the impact of stress."  Read more in this week's featured article about ten mindfulness practices for teens.

Title: A Still Quiet Place for Teens: A Mindfulness Workbook to Ease Stress and Difficult Emotions
By: Amy Saltzman
Ages: Teens

"Being a teen in today’s fast-paced, media-saturated world is difficult, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed or stressed out. This book will help you balance your emotions, stay focused, and experience the natural quietness that lives within you. Mindfulness expert Amy Saltzman offers a comprehensive program to help you manage daily stressors and challenges in your life, whether at home, in school, or with friends. Using proven-effective mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) techniques, this book will help you be fully present in the moment, cultivate kindness and curiosity toward yourself and others, and find constructive ways of dealing with the pressures of being a teen."
--Publishers

Have your teenager check out this website and adopt any of the mindful movement practices that they find helpful. You might start by doing some poses together and share how they make you feel.