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October 10th marks World Mental Health Day, a global reminder that mental well-being is just as vital as physical health—especially for children and teens. As we face a growing youth mental health crisis, it’s more important than ever to equip kids with tools that help them thrive emotionally, physically, and socially.

📊 The Mental Health Crisis in Numbers

Recent studies reveal alarming trends:

• Anxiety and depression rates among children have surged. In the U.S., feelings of persistent sadness and hopelessness increased by 40% over the past decade.
• Suicide is now the second leading cause of death for youth ages 12–24.
• During the pandemic, moderate-to-severe depression rose from 10.5% to 15.1% among 11–13-year-olds, with girls and Hispanic/Latinx youth most affected.

These numbers reflect more than statistics—they represent real children struggling to cope with stress, isolation, and uncertainty.

🧘‍♀️ How Yoga Supports Mental Health

Yoga offers a powerful, accessible way to help kids regulate their bodies and minds. Through breath-work, movement, and mindfulness, children learn to:

• Calm their nervous systems
• Recognize and manage emotions
• Build self-awareness and focus

Yoga isn’t just about flexibility—it’s about mental agility, emotional strength, and inner peace.

💪 The It’s Yoga Kids® 3 Success Skills

At It’s Yoga Kids®, we focus on three core skills that help children become the best version of themselves:

1. Adaptability Life is full of change. Yoga teaches kids to adjust with grace—whether it’s a new school, a tough game, or a challenging pose. Adaptability helps them stay open, curious, and calm in the face of uncertainty.
2. Resilience Falling out of a pose is part of the process. Yoga shows kids that setbacks are not failures—they’re opportunities to grow. Resilience builds emotional strength and the ability to bounce back from adversity.
3. Confidence Mastering a pose or simply showing up on the mat gives kids a sense of achievement. Yoga nurtures self-belief, helping children trust their bodies, their choices, and their voice.

🌱 Moving Forward Together

On World Mental Health Day, let’s commit to supporting children not just with care, but with skills. Yoga empowers kids to navigate life’s challenges with balance, strength, and joy. It’s more than a practice—it’s a pathway to lifelong well-being.

Let’s raise awareness, reduce stigma, and build a future where every child has the tools to thrive. Start HERE: Get a freebie. Come to class. Take a training!

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October 6th marks National Coaches Day, a time to honor the mentors who shape not just athletes—but confident, resilient human beings. (Check out this post that brought me to tears!) This year, we join Positive Coaching Alliance in saying Thank You, Coach for the countless hours, heart, and wisdom poured into every practice, pep talk, and game day.

Coaches do more than teach skills—they build character. And now, many are expanding their toolkit by becoming Kids Yoga Certified, recognizing that athletic performance is deeply tied to mental focus, emotional regulation, and physical safety.

Here’s why yoga is becoming a game-changer for student athletes:

🧘‍♂️ Body Awareness & Injury Prevention Yoga teaches athletes how to move with intention, improve flexibility, and build core strength. Coaches are using yoga to help kids understand their bodies better—reducing the risk of injury and promoting longevity in their sport.

🧠 Mental Focus & Emotional Resilience Breath-work and mindfulness practices sharpen concentration and calm nerves before competition. Whether it’s managing pre-game jitters or bouncing back from a tough loss, yoga equips athletes with tools to stay grounded and mentally strong.

❤️ Playing for the Love of the Game Yoga reminds kids why they started playing in the first place: joy, connection, and passion. Coaches who integrate yoga into training help athletes reconnect with their love for movement, fostering a healthy mindset that supports long-term engagement.

So today, we celebrate the coaches who are evolving, adapting, and leading with heart. By embracing yoga, they’re not just building better athletes—they’re nurturing whole, balanced individuals.

Thank you, Coach, for believing in kids, for showing up, and for helping them grow on and off the field. You are the true MVP. 🏆🧘‍♀️👏

Get your FREE Coaching Guide: 5 Keys to Level Up Student Athlete Performance HERE.

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A recent New York Times piece highlighted a key insight: self-control isn’t about gritting your teeth—it’s a skill that can be nurtured. When kids learn to pause, breathe, and redirect their attention, they strengthen the very muscles of willpower. Yoga is one of the simplest, most effective ways to help kids practice this skill daily.

Through mindful breathing, balancing poses, and relaxation practices, yoga helps children:

• Pause before reacting when emotions run high.
• Build focus by paying attention to breath and body.
• Strengthen resilience when facing challenges at school or home.

These skills translate into better classroom behavior, stronger learning outcomes, and healthier relationships.

The State of San Francisco Schools

A recent Neighbors for a Better San Francisco poll shows just how much these tools are needed. Trust in the district is shaken:

• Only 9% of San Franciscans think SFUSD is moving in the right direction.
• Among public school parents, just 8% agree, while 51% say the district is headed in the wrong direction.

Parents want schools to return to basics:

• 73% prioritize improving academic performance for all students.
• 66% want stronger literacy and math outcomes.
• 52% seek expanded access to college and career pathways.

On ethnic studies, most parents support the state’s one-semester requirement, with goals of cultural awareness (49%), understanding U.S. history (49%), and preparing students for a diverse society (47%). Still, major concerns remain about consistency (63%), displacement of advanced classes (63%), and transparency (61%).

Looking Beyond the District: New Models for Education

Given these challenges, families are seeking alternatives that combine academic excellence with emotional well-being. Programs like Coherence Education offer a fresh model—integrating project-based learning with emotional intelligence and mindfulness. By cultivating self-control, curiosity, and resilience, this approach prepares students not just for tests, but for life.

Bottom line: With trust in traditional systems faltering, schools must return to proven fundamentals—while also equipping kids with tools like yoga to navigate stress, strengthen self-control, and thrive in today’s complex world.