Hagen Ingunn, Nayar Usha S
Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NTNU , Trondheim , Norway.
New School University , New York , USA.
Front Psychiatry. 2014 Apr 2;5:35. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2014.00035. eCollection 2014.
This article discusses yoga as a potential tool for children to deal with stress and regulate themselves. Yoga provides training of mind and body to bring emotional balance. We argue that children and young people need such tools to listen inward to their bodies, feelings, and ideas. Yoga may assist them in developing in sound ways, to strengthen themselves, and be contributing social beings. First, we address how children and young people in today's world face numerous expectations and constant stimulation through the Internet and other media and communication technologies. One reason why children experience stress and mental health challenges is that globalization exposes the youth all over the world to various new demands, standards, and options. There is also increased pressure to succeed in school, partly due to increased competition but also a diverse range of options available for young people in contemporary times than in the past. Our argument also partially rests on the fact that modern society offers plenty of distractions and unwelcome attractions, especially linked to new media technologies. The dominant presence of multimedia devices and the time spent on them by children are clear indicators of the shift in lifestyles and priorities of our new generation. While these media technologies are valuable resources in children and young people's lives for communication, learning, and entertainment, they also result in constant competition for youngster's attention. A main concept in our article is that yoga may help children and young people cope with stress and thus, contribute positively to balance in life, well-being, and mental health. We present research literature suggesting that yoga improves children's physical and mental well-being. Similarly, yoga in schools helps students improve resilience, mood, and self-regulation skills pertaining to emotions and stress.
本文探讨了瑜伽作为儿童应对压力和自我调节的一种潜在工具。瑜伽提供身心训练以实现情绪平衡。我们认为儿童和年轻人需要这样的工具来倾听自己内心的身体、感受和想法。瑜伽可以帮助他们以健康的方式成长，增强自身能力，并成为有社会贡献的人。首先，我们阐述当今世界的儿童和年轻人如何通过互联网及其他媒体和通信技术面临众多期望和持续的刺激。儿童经历压力和心理健康挑战的一个原因是全球化使世界各地的年轻人面临各种新的要求、标准和选择。在学业上取得成功的压力也有所增加，部分原因是竞争加剧，而且与过去相比，当代年轻人可选择的范围更加多样。我们的观点还部分基于这样一个事实，即现代社会提供了大量的干扰因素和不良诱惑，尤其是与新媒体技术相关的。多媒体设备的主导地位以及儿童在其上花费的时间清楚地表明了我们这新一代生活方式和优先事项的转变。虽然这些媒体技术是儿童和年轻人生活中用于交流、学习和娱乐的宝贵资源，但它们也导致了对年轻人注意力的持续争夺。我们文章中的一个主要观点是，瑜伽可以帮助儿童和年轻人应对压力，从而对生活平衡、幸福和心理健康做出积极贡献。我们展示的研究文献表明瑜伽能改善儿童的身心健康。同样，学校中的瑜伽有助于学生提高适应力、情绪以及与情感和压力相关的自我调节技能。
