A recent study of teenagers by Kaiser Permanente in San Jose, California, found that meditation techniques helped improve mood disorders, depression, and self-harming behaviors like anorexia and bulimia.
The Wellness Initiative delivers complete wellness programs to elementary, middle and high school students through schools in Colorado. Our programs teach yoga, along with nutrition and stress reduction, to students and teachers alike, with the goal of enhancing schools' holistic cultures.
Donate now to help us deliver yoga to more low-income students in the Denver and Boulder metro areas! Click here to donate!
Did You Know:
• Yoga is a powerful system for helping children stay
• focused, centered and peaceful which, in turn, helps
• them concentrate better, learn more and gain
• physical and mental health throughout their lives.• "Yoga breaks" in the classroom help kids refocus,
• prepare for a test, and manage their emotions.• Experts estimate that anywhere between 10-15% of
• all children and adolescents have symptoms of a
• mental health disorder severe enough to cause some
• level of impairment. These conditions can include:
• depression, substance abuse, stress, anxiety
• disorders, ADHD, bipolar disorder and
• eating disorders.• The combined prevalence of anxiety disorders is
• higher than that of all other mental disorders of
• childhood and adolescence. The one year
• prevalence in 9-17 aged children is 13%.• Use of psychotropic medication for children and
• youth has increased sharply with more than $1 Billion
• spent in 1998 for these medications. Stimulants and
• antidepressants account for about 2/3 of the bill.• In the US today, more than 9 million children are
• overweight. The majority of these kids — as many as
• 80% — will become obese adults, and will be at
• higher risk for some of today's deadliest diseases:
• heart disease, stroke and diabetes.• Poor nutrition decreases cognitive functioning and
• performance in the areas of language, concentration
• and attention.• Wellness Initiative programs are practical, low cost
• and preventative medicine. We promote and teach
• mental, emotional and physical health through
• experience and connection!
