| Yoga has many uses, but establishing family bonds is | | | | health practices. |
| a valuable part of the practice. What should you do if | | | | In Hatha Yoga classes, careful alignment of the spine is |
| the family ties between a parent and child were not so | | | | emphasized, muscles are strengthened, the body |
| strong to start with? Sometimes, a parent and teen | | | | becomes balanced, flexibility is enhanced, and a sound |
| are complete strangers to each other. | | | | mind is developed. |
| For example: What if the family became separated, | | | | The value of a healthy spine is overlooked, by those |
| went through a divorce, if the children were brought up | | | | who are lucky enough to take it for granted, but it is a |
| by a day care system, or if one of the parents was | | | | crucial nervous center. The spinal maintenance aspect |
| so career-oriented that family ties were not a priority? | | | | is a valuable habit to learn at a young age. Yoga |
| It is never too late to re-establish family ties, but there | | | | practice helps to create some space between the |
| is much repair to be done. | | | | vertebrae, thus extending the life of our spine, and |
| Yoga, and other non-competitive activities, give both | | | | helping us to stay pain free in our later years. |
| parties a chance for joint participation, without an adult | | | | With all the emphasis on good health, and developing |
| being portrayed as the controlling parent or teacher. | | | | awareness, teens that practice Yoga are less likely to |
| Activities, which are non-competitive, such as Yoga, | | | | be pressured into substance abuse or "following the |
| give both parent and teen some "breathing room." | | | | leader." |
| One point for estranged parents to be aware of is - it | | | | As teens approach adulthood, some of the best gifts |
| takes time and a long-term commitment to develop | | | | parents can bestow on them, beside love, are: |
| strong family ties. Joint participation, in Yoga classes, | | | | Establishing good health habits, the ability to see things |
| gives time to repair the relationship. At the same time, | | | | as they are, and the ability to think for themselves. |
| Yogic philosophy guides teens to develop many good | | | | Yoga prepares teens for all of their challenges. |