As we all know, the teenage years are some of the most stressful and confusing times of our lives. There are so many factors contributing to the way teens feel from their school environment, friendships, family life, to the biological changes going on in their bodies. Learning to manage these stressors and find balance can be extremely difficult, for both teens and parents.
At standing Strong we believe in using natural alternatives to ease the physical, emotional and biological challenges of the teen years. This is where meditation comes in. It is more than just sitting quietly, it is a development of mindful awareness.
What specific benefits can mediation provide?
Improves concentration. According to studies conducted, meditation can actually improve how quickly and clearly brain cells communicate with one another and can improve how well people perform in busy, noisy environments. This can be a huge benefit for studying, especially at exam time.
Improves immune system. Quietening of the mind, deep breathing and positive visualization which all come with meditation have also been shown to improve the immune system. As detailed in this article, one study found that those who mediate shortened their colds by 50% over those who did not meditate.
Reduces stress. This is one of the tenants of mediation and definitely one of the major benefits for teenagers. Even small things seem huge to teenagers and teaching them to let go and focus can be extremely helpful, as this article from Mind Body Green explains.
Improves cardio health and lowers blood pressure. The Mayo Clinic has compiled extensive research on mediation and found that the calm and mindfulness it supports can actually help to reduce blood pressure and improve overall cardio health.
Improves self-awareness. The self-awareness that is developed through meditation can be very helpful to teenagers. The “Mindful Revolution,” mentioned in this article can help teenagers see themselves as they really are, and not compare themselves to their peers. This is a key factor in building resilience, self-confidence and self-esteem.
Improves self-acceptance. The teenage years are perhaps when this is most difficult. Meditation can help teens to form a closer and healthier connection with themselves which can make accepting oneself much easier. This is turn can lead to a more centered, happier teen.
Improves sleep. Teenagers need sleep and lots of it. However the reality is many teens are staying up later and having more difficulty getting to sleep. The mindfulness and calmness meditation promotes can not only help teenagers to quiet their minds at night, it can also help them to get deeper, more restful sleep when they actually do sleep.
Standing Strong is a huge advocates for teenage meditation and has some of the best programs in Perth to teach the right meditation and breathing techniques. For more information about their programs find them here: www.girlsstandingstrong.com.
Kim M. Smith
Standing Strong Founder
