More and more performers (Dancers, Actors, Singers, and Musicians, etc) are looking to Yoga to help them balance the demands on their bodies and minds, and to improve their performance in the arts.
Yoga can balance the body to allow for full expression in the arts. Internal rotation, breath work to maximize oxygen intake and distribution, and oppositional movement can free the body from the constraints of various art forms.
Shifting the mindset toward excellence is far healthier than the in-achievable and constant disappointment of failing to reach perfection. Yoga builds self-care into the system so young minds can manage the demands of the art form and maintain a growth mindset.
Yoga helps tap into that goodness so it can translate into everything a young performer does. It helps them overcome anxiety so they shine through and through.
Yoga teaches kids who are not targets of bullying to help victims by being confident bystanders. See Can Yoga Prevent Bullying? Part 1.
Here are three things by-standers can do to become up-standers and help a victim:
We wonder if all kids did yoga, perhaps one day there would be no bullies?! No one would have a reason to bully.
Kids would feel empowered in their own lives. Imagine that.
We explored how Yoga can help prevent victims from bullying in from Can Yoga Prevent Bullying? Part 1 and Part 2. Now, can yoga help the bully too?
Compassion. Bullies bully because it’s a learned behavior. They may feel powerless often because another is overpowering them, so they use others to feel powerful. Kids with this awareness can empathize with a bully to divert them to another way of dealing with their pain. Holding your body and having an attitude of confidence can protect you from being a target; the next step is to actually empathize with the bully if you still become a target.
Yoga teaches kids to be comfortable with who they are; it’s a powerful mindset. When you feel good about you, you can help others. Exercise boundaries with useful phrases to say in the moment, like:
We know from Can Yoga Prevent Bullying? Part 1, that Yoga teaches kids how to hold their bodies. Let’s explore another practical possibility of how yoga can help prevent becoming a victim.
Attitude. Bullies tend to avoid people with strong energy. It’s easier to pick on an emotionally weaker target. Here’s why some kids with large frames who may not feel large inside become targets, and some kids with small frames never become targets.
This requires concentration. Concentration with practice creates strength, balance and coordination, and these results build confidence. Confidence can emit an attitude of self-reliance. When a bully says or does something to hurt you, you can simply reject it. Holding your body and confidently responding with, “Nice try.” and walking away will not give the bully their desired outcome of power over you.
Even if what the bully said, or did, did hurt you, you can deal with that later, either on your own or with the help of a trusted adult.