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One of the reasons I love teaching yoga to kids and teens is to celebrate their uniqueness. Each individual brings something different to the mat every time they practice. It is wonderful to see them try Crow pose and succeed or, thanks to their natural flexibility, be able to touch their feet to their head in King Cobra pose, or finally be able to stop moving and truly relax when doing Corpse pose.

Lately there has been a debate raging around the yoga community regarding developing competitive yoga with an eye to having it accepted as an Olympic sport. Some find this philosophically wrong as yoga is about acceptance and personal growth. While others enjoy the individual challenge that the competitions emphasize.  To see the two sides of the argument visit YogaDork’s Competitive Yoga:Vicious or Vindicated: Ask Bikram and the flipside at the Bikram Yoga NYC blog Yoga Competition: Perspiration and Inspiration.

Today NY Times enters the fray with this article on how Rajashree Choudhury (wife to Bikram) is trying to build momentum for competitive yoga in North America and the Yoga Community’s response to that effort.

From what I know about yoga competitions I tend to agree with Michael Alba, a yoga teacher in Boston, who is quoted as saying, “It perpetuates the idea that yoga is for lithe-bodied contortionists.” A concept I completely disagree with. Yoga is for every body. See Yoga Accessible to All.

Competitive yoga is yoga at its pure physical extreme. Even Choudhury admits “We are not trying to judge any kind of spirituality when they are out there.” I think that is exactly the point. Yoga is, after all, a body/mind discipline and yoga competitions simply celebrate the physical aspect in a quick three minute performance, even if part of the path to achieve that physical performance was spiritual, mental, and emotional.

Jon Gan, a Bikram Yoga instructor and Director of the United States Yoga Federation, hopes that yoga competitions will help inspire yogis and non-yogis alike. “When I was a kid, I played tennis, and whenever I watched players on Wimbledon I’d want to get out there and play like them,” he said. “It inspired me. I’m hoping the same kind of things will happen here.”

Maybe, maybe not. In the meantime I’ll continue to teach all kids, teens and adults, regardless of ability, strength, flexibility, body shape, or special challenges, how to harness the many benefits of yoga and access their personal path to acceptance and understanding.

Namaste.

Eating disorders are more prevalent than Alzheimer’s disease. “In the United States, as many as 10 million females and 1 million males are fighting a life and death battle with an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia. Millions more are struggling with binge eating disorder (Crowther et al., 1992; Fairburn et al., 1993; Gordon, 1990; Hoek, 1995; Shisslak et al., 1995).” This is especially prevalent in the teenage population where, “Over one-half of teenage girls and nearly one-third of teenage boys use unhealthy weight control behaviors such as skipping meals, fasting, smoking cigarettes, vomiting, and taking laxatives (Neumark-Sztainer, 2005).”

With those kind of statistics it was good news last week when Time magazine brought to our attention, with this article, scientific proof from the Journal of Adolescent Health that yoga helps those struggling with eating disorders. (Shout out to YogaDork and Yoga Buzz for highlighting this.)

Yoga has proven to be highly therapeutic and relatively non-threatening when working with those struggling with eating disorders. It provides a gentle awakening of the mind with a soft embrace of the body as it helps to re-establish the connection between the mind and body which can become highly disengaged for individuals with eating disorders. Yoga’s focus on fostering self love and helping to eliminate negative emotions while developing body awareness and acceptance make it an ideal therapy.

Physically yoga helps as it is a non-aerobic form of exercise. In other words it gets the blood flowing, releases positive chemicals into the brain which help overcome anxiety and depression, is weight bearing (a necessity for anorexics who may be at risk for osteoporosis), and doesn’t lead to weight loss but helps build and tone the body. In addition, it is a skill which can be kept up throughout life promoting health and vitality for years to come.

One further benefit of yoga class for teens struggling with eating disorders is that it is a forum for discussion. Topics such as personal boundaries, comfort zones, levels of trust, body image and others can find voice in a safe and nurturing environment.

For more information on how you can help those struggling with eating disorders visit the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA)  and download a copy of their Educator Tool Kit.

You may also appreciate the article Moving Again, a personal account of how yoga aided Margaret E. Juliano’s in her fight to good health.

Timesonline reports that new research stresses that exercise does NOT result in weight loss.

“Professor Boyd Swinburn, director of the World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention, says: “This is provocative in many ways . . . but my concern is that if we put the emphasis on exercise we are unlikely to tackle the obesity problem as we are not driving at the root cause.””

This is shocking as it attacks the entire culture that exercise is key to losing weight which has been accepted as fact since the 1980s aerobics boom. So why doesn’t exercise work? Two factors are key:

1. We overestimate calories burned typically doubling the figure
2. We eat more to reward ourselves for exercising

OK, guilty as charged.  I’ve been known to enjoy an extra slice of cheese cake if I went to spin class. And I know that when my kids get home from their evening sports activities their first stop is the fridge. In fact, in “a review of 18 studies of new school exercise programmes, published in March in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, found that in none of them did increasing PE reduce the children’s weight.” So where does that leave the Daily Physical Activity requirement? (see the post Yoga and the DPA Requirement)

We are now forced to consider the other side of the “eat less, move more” equation. Yes, the four letter word, “diet.” A simple mathematical equation of “calories in = calories out” and you won’t gain weight. Put emphasis on either side and you have either weight gain or weight loss depending on how you mess with the balance. True, it sucks, as you actually have to watch what you eat, make healthy choices, and be aware of your consumption habits.

Its always been easier to simply enrol Junior in a sporting activity and allow free reign at the table. Therein lies our problem. Constant snacking, high fat/high sugar foods, easy access to fast food, excessive consumption of soda and juice, highly refined products, convenience over nutrition. All these are contributing to an epidemic which is killing our children.

In order to truly combat the childhood obesity we need to follow the Surgeon General’s three pronged attack to:

• Help kids stay active
• Encourage healthy eating habits
• Promote healthy choices

For ideas on how to implement these goals check out the suggestions for Schools & Teachers and Parents & Caregivers.

Its not a case of diet vs exercise but more a lifestyle shift which includes both diet AND exercise. Yes, this means hard work, consistency, and actually eating 5-10 serving of fruit & veg a day. For a multitude of suggestions on how to accomplish this visit Diet-Blog. When we finally figure this out we’ll be well on our way to healthier living for ourselves and our children.

Are we motivated only by competition?

The Telegraph recently reported on a government study in the UK which found that fewer students are participating in competitive sports. There is a general decline in competing school against school and an increase in non-competitive “fun” endeavors like cheer-leading (they obviously aren’t on a competitive cheer team), yoga, and circus skills (not too sure what that is but it sounds fun).

Interestingly the article is against this shift. Quoting Nick Seaton, Chairman of the Campaign for Real Education:

“Non-competitive sport can never be a substitute for competitive sport which stretches young people to the utmost and help them get used to winning and losing.”

In addition, the article appears to blame non-competitive sports for the increase in childhood obesity.

Hold on! I don’t think so.

Simply by increasing opportunities for non-competitive activities that doesn’t mean the activities are any less  physically demanding. The idea that kids are motivated to excel physically simply due to their competitive natures is so wrong. Yes, healthy competition may bring out the best in some. It is always great to win. However, there are numerous individuals who simply opt out, knowing that they will never be fast enough, strong enough, good enough to win the gold medal.

Providing non-competitive options in school settings allows all students (jocks and nots) with an opportunity to develop their physical abilities. Yoga in particular will explore other aspects of the individual, and definitely challenge those who believe they are strong and fit, while involving non-physically inclined participants. I applaud the schools in the UK who are offering students a variety of competitive and non-competitive options in their PE curriculum. By providing a variety of options more kids may discover ways to stay fit and healthy throughout their lives.

What do you think? Are we motivated by competition? What are your motives for getting fit? Why do your kids exercise?

A shout out to Yoga Buzz for highlighting this article.

I love how more and more athletes are using yoga as a cross training and meditative tool to be the best they possibly can at their chosen sport. From highschool football players to NBA stars, yoga is fast becoming a must. 

Emily Cook

Check out these two interviews with Olympic athletes Emily Cook (freestyle skier) and Katherine Ruetter (speed skating) in regards to their yoga practice.

Interview with Emily Cook

Katherine Ruetter

Interview with Katherine Ruetter

Thanks to Ann Pizer, of About.com for posting these.

Yoga can be a tremendous aid to cancer patients, survivors and family members as they battle the disease. Physically, mentally, and emotionally yoga provides the care, security, support, acceptance and rehabilitation needed during these crucial times. Breathing techniques, visualizations, and gentle asana practice all contribute to a healthy lifestyle and help cope with the ravages of cancer.

We’ve all been touched in some way by cancer. My grandparents have died from it, numerous friends are survivors, and a high school girlfriend’s little boy continues to fight brain cancer. I encourage you to show your support of these brave individuals by getting involved with your favorite cancer charity in the coming months. Kids and teens are often especially willing to lend a hand or help raise money and awareness demonstrating a high level of empathy and understanding. Get them involved in serving in the community. Here are a couple of my favorites.

Yoga Bear, an organization which aids and supports cancer patients & survivors, is encouraging an awareness campaign which encourages people to wear yellow on October 2nd to recognize the anniversary of Lance Armstrong’s cancer diagnosis. Learn more about Lance Armstrong and LIVESTRONG here.

Movember, a world wide movement which started in Australia, is bringing back the ’stash’. Men begin clean shaven on November 1st and grow a moustache throughout the month to increase prostrate cancer awareness. Learn more here.

The St. Valentine’s Day Hair Massacure, an annual event to raise money for the Stollery Children’s Hospital. To date this annual fundraiser has raised over $3 million with celebrities, families, 24 participating schools, even dogs participating by dying their hair vibrant pink and/or going bald.

Show your support. Get involved. Make a difference.