Yoga serves as therapy for some troubled teens

By Staff Writer

Shelters in Seattle are offering yoga to troubled teens in an effort to treat symptoms of addiction, abuse and trauma.

According to the radio station KIRO, five homeless shelters in Seattle open their doors for adolescents and encourage them to participate in the popular meditative practice. The program, called Street Yoga, has proven effective. One troubled teen stopped self-harming after just 10 yoga classes and has begun speaking with a counselor.

The director of Seattle's Street Yoga chapter said that teenagers who have emotional and behavioral problems usually have unbalanced nervous systems. She told the news provider that stretching and breathing exercises can help children relax, and perhaps even steer them toward recovery treatment.

The director said that more than 300 youths in Seattle have participated in Street Yoga, and she expects that figure to double in 2011.

Children with behavioral issues may benefit from other activities that promote healthy living, such as those offered by wilderness camps. A study by the Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Industry Council reveals that more than 90 percent of graduates of wilderness treatment reported that their experience had a positive effect.