Dahn Yoga exercises are intended for individuals of all ages and can be practiced nearly anywhere, whether it be at school, at work or at home, provided there are a few minutes to spare. One teacher in South Texas has begun showing her students how breathing exercises can help melt stress away.
Educator Anna Chavarria has been holding yoga tutorials at Lamar Academy in McAllen, Texas, in the hopes that teens will learn to manage anxiety through breath control, the Monitor reports.
She told the news source that one benefit of practicing yoga in high school is that it eliminates the tension that comes with a sense of competition.
Chavarria holds several weekly classes in which she instructs students on the proper techniques of yoga-based breathing exercises. These include the loosening of the limbs, the unclenching of the jaw and a long, deep inhalation that is held for a few seconds and then slowly exhaled, the newspaper said.
The classes may better keep students' interest, compared to strenuous and mindless routines like jogging or weight training.
"Just walking around in circles didn’t appeal to me," Chavarria noted.
At any age, Dahn Yoga exercises, stretching, posing and deep breathing can contribute to an overall sense of relaxation and well-being.
I wish I had learned something about yoga and meditation in high school, or earlier. I strongly believe it would have helped in school, sports, and socially because of the better focus, peace of mind, confidence and flexibility. From what I know now- just taking time to breath during those intense high school days would have been great!