The foundational principles of Yoga revolve around spiritual oneness and mindfulness. Such elements of the human experience aren't usually associated with childhood or adolescence, but adopting these practices early on can impact and improve a child or young adult’s emotional well-being, and lay the groundwork for a positive-minded journey through life.
Lindsay Smith, a 12 year old girl from Englewood, NJ began taking Yoga classes through an instructor she found on Instagram. One of her friends from school was already taking lessons, and she really wanted to try it out. Her parents were wary initially of allowing her to receive such a personal lesson from a stranger online, but the instructor had videos of child-oriented Yoga sessions available for reference, and set up a free consultation meeting, which helped ease their concerns.
Lindsay was excited, and she started preparing immediately. She researched yoga leggings online, asked to borrow her older cousin’s block and wheel, and even changed her diet ahead of the lesson. Her excitement eventually turned into a bit of anxiety, making the upcoming class even more relevant. After two long weeks, the day finally came. She rode her bike to a nearby park on what seemed to be the nicest day of the year, ready to take the next step in her young life.
Lindsay thought she was walking into a challenging and strenuous experience. She already played soccer, tennis, and basketball, and had been taking violin lessons for five years. Being a high achiever throughout her young life, she was anticipating the challenge, ready to put her all into this new endeavor. Lindsay didn’t know how to react when the first words from the instructor were “Breathe”. “I already know how to breathe” she said to herself. However, she quickly learned that breathing was different in this context.
She was initially caught off-guard by the fact that she couldn’t just put her head down and work through her first Yoga session. This was proved to be the first life-long lesson she would gain through the experience, but it was far from the last. Her instructor began to walk her through the guiding points of Yoga, attaching each principle to a specific position.
To illustrate “Ahimsa”, or nonviolence, Lindsay was taught how to breathe deeply, and in a relaxed and controlled manner. Lindsay quickly realized that she already felt less stressed, less competitive, and less anxious about completing the lesson and getting good results. This wasn’t about beating anyone, but more about creating a better self.
To connect with “Satya” or truthfulness, Lindsay’s instructor taught her tree pose. This pose required focus and balance, two things that Lindsay was surprised to struggle with. At first, she blamed the uneven grass for her inability to stay on one foot. She then pointed to distractions in the park. She eventually faced the truth that she was a beginner, and just wasn’t good at this pose yet. Accepting shortcoming was new territory for Lindsay, and a lesson that really helped her grow.
Downward Facing Dog showed Lindsay the importance of righteousness, or “Asteya”. Her instructor was looking at the floor during this position, and wasn’t watching Lindsay. She knew she could cheat a little bit perhaps, and let a knee rest on the floor for a while without anyone noticing. Already feeling tired, she thought that she would be able to perform better with some added rest. However, she quickly realized that she would only be cheating herself if she didn’t complete the poses correctly, and fought against her fatigue instead of the lesson.
These initial three lessons served to not only whet her appetite for more Yoga, but provide Lindsay with a sense of enlightenment that would change her life forever. She approached her next Yoga class differently, and her entire life followed this major step in personal growth.
