How to Help Your Teen Gain a Healthy Self Image

I have been considerably concerned about teens and their attitudes regarding body size and how they fit within society for some time. But it wasn't until I overheard some young women at a nearby mall comment on their weight and how concerned they were (to the point that they swore off food for a weekend) that it really hit me that kids today don't really understand that losing weight and looking good does not come down to just not eating. It seems to me that self images and bodies are running hand in hand these days and without some adult intervention, these kids don't have a chance of understanding that how you look isn't nearly as important as how you act and feel.

I did some checking with some teen children of friends and found that the average young woman ( and young men as well) feel that to lose weight and look good, all they had to do was quit eating and the pounds would peel off. Hearing this I was naturally shocked as those of us who have tried to drop weight know that much of the initial weight lost is water weight and not real fat. And the worst part of not eating is that you starve your muscles and lose all semblance of a decent muscle mass in the process. Knowing that I began to try to find something that would appeal to the teens in my life, while stressing to them the importance of keeping fit in stead of concentrating on "losing weight".

Remembering a book on Yoga geared for a younger set that I had recently read, I discovered that the same authors had written a similar book for teens. I suspected it would be written in much the same way, with teen friendly language and I was correct. Not only is this book written in a form that would interest any teen regardless of physical fitness level, but it is also presented in a bright cheerful and dynamic way upon its pages. With the liberal use of color, fantastic illustrations and inspirational quotations from a myriad of individuals, this book is one that grabs your attention and gets you moving.

I decided to try out the book myself to see if it was worth the price and I found something interesting. I found within the pages, explanations on Chakra's, poses, energy, self confidence and even a yoga journal. Breathe yoga for teens, is the sort of book one cannot help but learn from not only in terms of physical well being but in terms of one's self and outlook upon the world as well. The tenets of yoga are well described within this book explaining to the student that they are a guideline to life, and in fact that yoga itself is not just a hobby but a way of life as well.

And I was thrilled to find included with the book is an interesting and informative as well as instructional DVD which quite frankly, I plan to implement into MY life and which I can easily see how it would become one of those "frequently watched" videos within a teens life as well. I have been using the video for awhile now and have found that I feel more control over my body and it's grace and ease of motion and believe it or not, I am actually seeing a difference in my body size, without altering my eating habits either by the way.

Simply said, Breathe Yoga for Teens is one of those books I ordered for Christmas for my sons and also will be ordering for all the teen, pre teen and even my 20 something nieces and nephews. It is a book, which I honestly feel spans many age groups, from preteen to that of post-college. Within it's pages one can find not only yoga but an outlook on life that in this day and age of stress, overindulgence and low self esteem is refreshing and a positive way for all readers to begin to look at their lives. I suspect that this is a book, once opened will receive a lot of use and with the additional DVD, this book does double duty when helping teens to begin a new phase of their lives with confidence, self awareness and a better outlook on life as well.

I really am glad I overheard those young women in the mall that day. I knew that body images were becoming more and more important to teens but didn't realize that many of these kids, despite all our best intentions in their health classes, don't understand the importance of whole body toning and being sensible in attaining ones goals body wise. I honestly feel it is our duty as responsible adults, to help the teens in our lives to have better whole body health and understand the importance of body strength and control. And with books like this one on the market, we have a fighting chance with our kids. We have to do something to help them and to me, this is a darn good place to start.