Resources/Benefits

Resources/Benefits

Links to wonderful articles & podcasts:

Podcast: Play, Spirit & Character
(Really Awesome) with NPR

Podcast: Inner Lives of Children with NPR

Great Articles:
Benefits of the arts
Benefits of Yoga for teens

Physical Benefits of Yoga
Strength — builds strength of muscles and bones   Flexibility — lengthens muscles to increase mobility in the joints   Improved Posture — develops understanding of body mechanics, healthy movement patterns, and ideal postural alignment   Ability to Relax — develops the skill of non-action and the awareness to physically relax   Breath Awareness — draws attention to the breath as a reflection of state of mind and as a tool to elicit relaxation and focus   Stability and Balance — provides physical experiences that ask the body to continually re-establish balance, which develops coordination and prevents injury   Equalizes Energy — revitalizes low energy and tempers hyperactivity
Mental Benefits of Yoga
Stress-Management — allows people to experience a sense of space around their concerns (including what others think) and provides techniques for redirecting thoughts and calming the nervous system   Improved Decision Making — teaches people to make choices that respect themselves and others   Concentration — develops one’s ability to focus through practical disciplines of breath and bodywork   Healthy Body Image — provides a strengthened internal perspective; helps self-image develop free of media and other cultural influences  Acceptance — cultivates gratitude for what the body can do; enables letting go of the tendency to be critical of one’s self and judgmental of others  more Benefits of Yoga  Compassion — opens us to our greater qualities of kindness, compassion, and nonviolence   Connection — cultivates interconnectedness between ourselves, others, and the natural world around us   Presence — heightens awareness and cultivates emotional connection while combating both numbness and drama   Intuition — encourages self-trust by valuing one’s internal voice
The arts:
-Heightens self-esteem.

-Allows for expression and creativity.

-Provides fulfillment through productivity.

-Tends to improve academic performance.