One of the things I worry about most with young people is how early we start defining them. Clever, academic, difficult, anxious, high achieving, not reaching potential, good at maths, bad at English, university material, not university material. And then come the results, the grades, the comparisons and the inevitable question of what you are
You Are Good Enough Continue »
This informal CPD article ‘Evidence-Informed Practice in Yoga for Children and Young People’ was provided by Teen Yoga Foundation, a charity promoting the well-being of young people through the practice of yoga in schools & beyond through trainings, events & classes. Interest in yoga as a supportive approach for children and young people’s wellbeing has grown
CPD ARTICLE – Evidence-Informed Practice in Yoga for Children and Young People Continue »
This informal CPD article ‘Yoga for Young People: Considerations for Practice Across Different Settings’ was provided by Teen Yoga Foundation, a charity promoting the well-being of young people through the practice of yoga in schools & beyond through trainings, events & classes. Interest in yoga as a support for children and young people’s wellbeing has grown
Adolescence is a period of enormous neurological, emotional and social change. Young people are navigating identity, relationships, academic pressure, changing bodies and an increasingly digital world, often while their nervous systems are still developing. Yoga therapy offers practical, evidence-informed tools that help young people become more aware of their internal experience, regulate stress, improve resilience
10 Yoga Therapy Tools to Support Teenagers Continue »
In 2005, Japanese mathematician and essayist Masahiko Fujiwara published a provocative book, The Dignity of the Nation. His central argument was simple but profound: a nation does not flourish because of wealth, technology, logic or even democracy alone. It flourishes because of the character of its people. A nation possesses dignity when its citizens are
The Dignity We Cannot Measure: Why Young People Need More Than Mental Health Support Continue »
One of the assumptions that concerns me most when discussing the growing number of young people who are not in education, employment or training is the subtle belief that the trend is somehow inevitable. When a problem becomes large enough, visible enough and persistent enough, there is a tendency to begin treating it as a fact of
Can We Reverse a National Trend? History Suggests We Can. Continue »
When Alan Milburn’s report landed on my desk, I found myself thinking less about employment statistics and more about a group of teenagers standing outside a school gate twenty years ago. At first glance, the connection may seem tenuous. The report concerns the growing number of young people in the United Kingdom who find themselves outside
What Iceland Teaches Us About the NEET Crisis Continue »
There is a strange contradiction at the heart of modern life. We are more connected than ever, more visible than ever, more able to perform ourselves to the world than any generation in history, and yet so many young people feel unseen in the ways that matter most. Beneath the endless stream of content, branding,
The Quiet Measure of a Life: Dignity, Grace and the Return to Real Connection Continue »
There is something I have come to understand very clearly over the years: real change does not begin with systems, it begins with people. It begins in the body, in the nervous system, in those small, often invisible moments where a young person either feels overwhelmed by life or finds just enough steadiness to stay
There is something slightly uneasy about the word therapy. Not because it is wrong, nor because it has not brought relief and understanding to many, but because it carries with it a particular orientation: one that can, at times, locate the problem within the individual and the solution in an intervention. When we bring this word into the
Cikitsā: a different language for healing Continue »
I watched our cat the other morning, sitting quietly beside what used to be a lively rat’s nest. She wasn’t pouncing, prowling, or even particularly alert. She was simply there — present, steady, unhurried. Within days the rats had relocated. No drama, no battle. Just the quiet influence of her being. I’ve seen the same
The Subtlety of Being Rather Than Doing Continue »
We often think of hypnosis as something mysterious, done by someone else, maybe with a swinging watch and a deep voice. But here’s the truth: you are hypnotising yourself every single day. Every time you repeat a thought — “I’m not good enough”, “I’ll never manage that”, or even “I always mess things up” —
How Are You Hypnotising Yourself? Continue »
By Charlotta Martinus In a world that constantly demands your attention—scroll here, swipe there, binge this, do more—have you ever paused to ask: Where is my energy going? This is a question at the heart of an ancient yogic principle called Brahmacharya—a Sanskrit word often misunderstood, but deeply relevant to young people today. What Is Brahmacharya, Really?
Where Is Your Energy Going? Understanding Brahmacharya for Young People Continue »
by Charlotta Martinus Self-care is often spoken about as something simple: take a bath, go for a walk, pause for a deep breath. Yet for many of us — teachers, parents, young people alike — caring for ourselves can feel surprisingly difficult. Even when we know we need rest, something inside resists. We keep pushing,
The Art of Letting Go: Overcoming Hindrances to Self-Care Through Ishwara Pranidhana Continue »
By Charlotta Martinus In the face of rising violence, fractured communities, and the deep loneliness that haunts so many—especially our young people—what if the real revolution begins not with resistance, but with tenderness? We are living through extraordinary times. The headlines—whether about war, climate breakdown, political unrest, or mental health crises—paint a picture of a
Tenderness as a Revolutionary Act: A Hopeful Vision for the Future Continue »
By Charlotta Martinus There’s a word that’s been making a quiet resurgence among young people: wholesome. On social media, in conversations, and within communities, young people are increasingly drawn to this concept. At first glance, it might seem like a quaint, almost old-fashioned word – something our grandparents might have used to describe a hearty
Wholesome: Rediscovering What It Means to Feel Whole in a Disconnected World5 Continue »
Theory of Change Model for Yoga’s Impact on Mental Health and Social Cohesion 1. Inputs 2. Activities 3. Outputs 4. Short-term Outcomes 5. Intermediate Outcomes 6. Long-term Outcomes
Theory of Change Model for Yoga’s Impact on Mental Health and Social Cohesion Continue »
In our modern era, marked by upheaval and unrest, parents and school teachers are witnessing the profound impact of uncertainty on the young minds they nurture and educate. As we navigate through turbulent times—where global crises, societal shifts, and technological advancements shape our daily lives—our youth are confronted with a world rife with challenges and
Illuminating Hope: Yoga’s Guiding Light for Youth in an Age of Uncertainty Continue »
On my way to the second day of the Yoga for Teens training course, I reflect over the common themes that always come up on these days, 28 people from all over Europe, united in one vision to support young people with yoga, have all noticed the same thing – young people are increasingly anxious,
Why Teens Need Yoga More Than Ever Continue »
