A Dozen Yoga and Mindful Movement Videos for Teens

Here are a variety of yoga, movement, and stretching videos for use by teachers, therapists, and anyone else who’d like to share grounding, relaxation, and awareness practices with youth.

1) Afro Flow Yoga Relaxation

instructor: Leslie Salmon Jones, who combines yoga with African-inspired dance (accompanied by live music from her husband Jeff W. Jones)

level: should be suitable for all levels: breathing exercises followed by gentle movement for the arms and shoulders

time: 4 minutes

equipment: none

2) Beginner Yoga for Bigger Bodies

instructor: Zelinda Yañez, a yoga teacher and yoga therapist who specializes in adapting instruction to different body types.

level: Standing and seated routine suitable for less flexible participants.

time: 15 minutes

equipment: 1-2 folding chairs to modify some of the poses

3) Beginner Yoga Routine for Men

instructor: Yoga and Pilates instructor Sean Vigue

level: enough strength and flexibility to handle a typical yoga class

time: 10 minutes

equipment: mat

4) 5 Mindful Movement Practices for Youth

instructor: Em Morrison from the Mindful Schools teacher certification program

level: gentle movement; should be suitable for all levels of fitness

time: 9 minutes (the movements are demonstrated from minutes 2-7, followed by a demonstration of a game that can be played with a group.)

equipment: none for the movement practice; you’ll need a quarter (or equivalent type of coin) to play the game

(note: This video explains the movements to instructors; it’s not intended as a routine to be shown to your students or clients.)

5) Mindful Movement Refresh

instructor: Mind-body educator Cara Bradley

level: beginning/gentle movement

time: 5 minutes

equipment: none

6) Rise and Shine Yoga Class

instructor: 14-year-old(!) yoga teacher Jaysea Devoe

level: teens with the strength and flexibility to handle a typical adult yoga class

time: 30 minutes

equipment: mat

7) Seated Yoga for Teens and Kids

instructor: Pediatric physical therapist Heather Sossaman (movements demonstrated by a teen boy)

level: kids who can handle upper-body twisting and stretching movements

time: 5 minutes (video is 7:24; movements start at 1:36)

equipment: chair

8) Wheelchair Yoga

instructor: Ben Clark from Adapt to Perform (‘Fitness for wheelchair users, by wheelchair users.’)

level: average upper-body strength and range of motion; enough hand and arm strength to lift leg into position for seated pigeon pose

time: 15 minutes

equipment: wheelchair (or chair) 

9) Yoga for Beginners Teen Yoga Class

instructor: Yoga Ed (instructor not named)

level: average level of fitness and flexibility

time: 20 minutes of movement + 5 minutes of meditation

equipment: mat

10) Yoga for Complete Beginners

instructor: “Black Yogi” Nico Marie

level: average level of fitness and flexibility

time: 20 minutes

equipment: mat and pillow or folded towel

11) Yoga for Energy and Stress Relief

instructor: Yoga teacher Rodney Yee

level: enough strength and flexibility to handle a typical yoga class

time: 5 minutes

equipment: mat

12) Yoga for Teens

instructor: Yoga teacher Adriene Mishler 

level: enough strength and flexibility to handle a typical yoga class

time: 20 minutes

equipment: mat

Conclusion

I hope you and your students, patients, or clients find these practices helpful. 

Please keep in mind:

• What makes movement ‘mindful’ has little to do with the specific type of movement you choose—it’s about how they’re paying attention to their own breath, their own bodies, and their own internal experience.
• Even something labeled as a beginner video may not be suitable to the fitness level of any particular teen. Please preview (and ideally, try yourself) any of the videos you plan to use—and think carefully about what’s most appropriate for the specific youth under your care. 
• It’s very important that they learn to listen to signals from their own bodies, rather than pushing too hard to imitate the instructor or their peers (which could lead to frustration and even injury).

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