Youth Yoga Lab
Breath • Move • Engage
Adventum Mental Health Network is proud to bring kids yoga to our community! We offer kids yoga to schools, organizations, and families to support children in their mental health journey. We are grateful to be in collaboration with beFree Yoga Studio in Tyler, TX.
What Is Adventum Youth Yoga Lab?
Adventum Youth Yoga Lab teaches youth accessible self-regulating mental health tools such as yoga, mindfulness, meditation, and breathing. We currently partner with Caldwell Arts Academy, Clarkston Elementary and Tyler Legacy High School. We are the only school yoga program in Smith County.
Youth Yoga Lab in TISD Schools
Adventum Youth Yoga Lab began during the pandemic in 2020. With Covid drastically altering school life, we could not think of a better time to start our program. We kicked off Youth Yoga Lab at Caldwell Arts Academy in Tyler, TX during the 2020-2021 school year.
We were honored to partner with Caldwell and work with all the Caldwell Stars! We offered yoga to the Elementary and Middle School Students. The following school year, we came back to Caldwell and started our program at Clarkston Elementary and Tyler Legacy High School. That school year we increased our classes and extended our program by offering Professional Development workshops for teachers and TISD staff.
The fall of 2022 starts off our third year working in partnership with our schools. Youth Yoga Lab is growing and so is the need for more accessible mental health resources in our community. We hope you join us in supporting our mission!
Why Teach Kids Yoga?
Youth Yoga Lab: Elementary Age Group
This is a broad age group of children, ages five to ten or eleven. Teaching yoga to children this age is vitally important as it assists them in developing tools or ways to improve their health and well-being. Playing fun games, incorporating thematic stories and using age-appropriate props in a structured class setting provides many benefits to children.
They have opportunities to grow physically as yoga assists in their neuromuscular and core strength development, and increases circulation, hormone function, balance, flexibility, and coordination. Scientific research shows that yoga helps children learn to calm and clear the mind, thereby increasing concentration, focus and attention span. Additional mental benefits include the reduction of stress and anxiety; improvements in creativity and imagination expansion; and growth in the ability to be less reactive and more responsive in their thoughts and actions.
In many schools across the country, yoga and mindfulness programs are a key component in social and emotional learning. Yoga can help children develop a greater sense of self-knowledge, self-worth and confidence.
Youth Yoga Lab: Middle School Age Group
Children in middle school have a strong desire to fit in and to be respected. During these years, children may experience hormonal changes and mood swings. They may be modest and overly concerned about the physical changes they are experiencing in their bodies.
The ever presence of social media has the potential to increase anxiety and stress in children this age and Middle-Schoolers may struggle with self- judgment. In extreme cases, children have been bullied online, with dire consequences. Yoga for children this age should be fun; a time for them to connect with others and to discover common bonds. At this age, children can be taught the proper alignment in poses and be encouraged to make adjustments in the postures.
Teaching breathing techniques and mindfulness allows children this age to learn to self-regulate and able to respond in difficult situations rather than react. The practice of yoga can empower children to make decisions for themselves and to cultivate their own sense of trust. Additionally, they learn to listen and pay attention to the natural intelligence of their own bodies.
Testimonials
“Yoga taught me how to breathe. The breathing helped me relax and have fun. It helped me when I felt angry at home.”
“Yoga helped me concentrate on what I was doing in school. And it helped me go to sleep and relax at home.”
“When I would do yoga in the morning, I would be very calm and happy and ready to start my day. It helped me during stressful times at home.”
“I learned in yoga how to breathe and relax when things got hard.”
“I loved everything about yoga class! I looked forward to going every Wednesday morning. It helped me stay relaxed and calm when I’m anxious. It helped me not get stressed out with my homework and stuff.”
Meet Our Youth Yoga Lab Teachers
Colleen Long
Colleen is President of Adventum Mental Health Network, Inc. She is the creator and organizer of all things Adventum. Colleen holds an MBA from Belhaven University and has worked in the investment industry for 15 years. In 2018, Adventum was born from the success of the inaugural Mindfulness Triathlon. The following year, Colleen became a Registered 200 hour Yoga Teacher and in 2021 a Registered 95 hour Trauma Informed Children’s Yoga Teacher.
Kids yoga is a passion of hers and she enjoys teaching with Youth Yoga Lab. Colleen teaches Restorative Yoga and Yoga for Anxiety at beFree Yoga Studio in Tyler, TX. Colleen incorporates meditation, mindfulness, sound therapy and breathwork into her yoga classes. She is a Reiki Master and is passionate about empowering others in their mental health journey.
Partner With Us!
Interested in partnering with Youth Yoga Lab? We collaborate with schools, organizations, pediatricians, counselors, and families to support children in their mental health journey. Our focus is on children from Pre-K to High School age.
Whether you need private yoga sessions, group classes, or mental health talks, we want to help support your mental health needs. To find out more and explore our options, please fill out our contact form below.