Authored by Smt. Vani Shukla, President, SA Chapter, HCA, Registered senior Yoga teacher at Yoga Australia. She has an M.Sc. in Yoga Therapy from Manipal University and a B.Sc. in Nutrition & Dietetics from Lucknow University.
Yoga: Supporting Young Minds and Mental Health
When people hear the word yoga, they often think of difficult poses or needing to be very flexible. But real yoga is much more than that. It is about balancing the mind, body, and inner self. Yoga teaches us how to breathe better, calm the mind, be more aware of our thoughts, and show kindness to ourselves.
Through simple movements (called asanas), breathing exercises (pranayama), and quiet reflection (meditation), yoga helps settle the nervous system and bring a sense of peace inside.
Young people today are growing up in a fast-moving world. Technology has made life exciting but also more stressful. Constant notifications, online comparisons, and pressure to perform well at school or work can leave young minds overwhelmed. Many young people feel anxious, lonely, or unsure about their future.
It’s easy to get caught in the trap of trying to present a “perfect life” online, which adds more mental strain. Add to that the pressure of keeping up with studies, jobs, and relationships, and many young people are struggling to cope.
We are also living in a time where there is simply too much information coming at us all the time, more than any human mind is built to handle. This constant overload can lead to stress, poor focus, and emotional exhaustion.
How Yoga Can Help
The beauty of yoga is that it gives young people tools to manage these pressures in a healthy and natural way. Here are some of the ways yoga supports mental well-being:
- Reduces Anxiety Yoga helps calm the nervous system and reduces the levels of cortisol, the body’s main stress hormone. Regular yoga can bring a deep sense of calm, helping to ease feelings of anxiety.
- Improves Focus and Attention In today’s world of endless distractions, yoga helps train the mind to focus on the present moment. Breathing exercises and mindful movements improve concentration, making it easier to focus on studies or tasks.
- Builds Emotional Strength Yoga helps release natural “feel-good” chemicals in the brain like endorphins and serotonin. It also encourages self-acceptance and helps young people process emotions that may be stuck in their bodies, leading to greater emotional resilience.
Yoga, a preventive approach
Instead of waiting for mental health problems to become severe, introducing yoga early in young people’s lives can act as a powerful preventive tool. When taught in schools, universities, or community centres, yoga can help young people:
- Cope better with stress
- Improve their sleep quality
- Stay emotionally balanced in the face of life’s ups and downs
In a world where mental health challenges are growing, yoga is not just about physical fitness; it is about nurturing the mind and spirit too. By making yoga accessible to our youth, we can help them lead calmer, more balanced, and healthier lives.
