Welcome to Yoga By Teens
Yoga By Teens DVD at Amazon
Join Yoga Teens, Lauren, Emily and Jessica Parsons in a class that is designed and taught by teens.
- Yoga by Teens teaches basic hatha yoga poses that are fun and challenging.
- Yoga helps to build strength and flexibility as well as develop self-confidence and self esteem.
- Yoga by Teens' message is that yoga is for all ages and levels of ability, including people with special needs.
Meet The Teens
Lauren Parsons was 16 years old in this DVD and has home-schooled most of her school years. She is currently attending classes at UC Berkeley, where she is a theater major. She has a great love of the theater arts and has been seen in many youth theater performances in Santa Barbara. She is a published author and writes a monthly column for the Youth Spotlight in the Santa Barbara News-Press.
Here is her September 2006 article about the Yoga By Teens DVD.
Lauren also wrote about teaching yoga at the YMCA in this Youth Spotlight article in December 2007.
Her yoga practice has given her poise and confidence in the performing arts as well as focus and determination in reaching her goals.
Emily Parsons was 13 years old in the DVD and has home-schooled all of her school years. She is Jessica's twin sister. She is in Santa Barbara City College and enjoys all aspects of the theater arts. She is currently attending singing, and jazz dance lessons. She is a monthly contributor to the Santa Barbara News-Press Youth Spotlight and writes an article on the theater activities for the youth in Santa Barbara. She has performed in several Santa Barbara children's theater productions. Yoga has helped Emily become more flexible and is helpful in keeping her centered and self assured.
Jessica was born with Downs Syndrome and is an inspiration to watch as her love of yoga shines through. She is receiving the many benefits yoga has to offer. When she was born Jessica was too flexible and had very low muscle tone. She has had to build the muscles in her entire body. Some of the more challenging stretches are easier for her than her sisters, but she works hard on building her strength and developing her balance. She loves to demonstrate the use of the yoga props.
It's great to see sisters working together and helping each other in the poses.
Lauren says "Having a sister with special needs can be quite a challenge, but when we do yoga it's a fun way to be together and I realize how much we are all the same."
Emily says "there are a lot of things that Jessica can't do as well as other people, but with yoga, you can just be wherever you are, and it's perfect!"
Jessica says "I just think it's fun"
About the Yoga By Teens DVD
Yoga By Teens DVD at Amazon
Yoga by Teens is a class that is for teens, taught by teens.
Lauren, Emily and Jessica Parsons are sisters who have grown up with yoga as a way of life. Their parents, Jim and Sue Anne, have been teaching yoga for over 20 years and have taught their kids that yoga is a non-competitive, fun way to stay in shape, and a way for the family to share quality time together.
The girls have attended hundreds of yoga classes and have even completed a yoga teachers training.
Their message is that yoga is for all ages and all levels of flexibility.
The girls are at different levels and demonstrate modifications and the use of blocks, blankets, and straps.
The introduction addresses the fact that yoga doesn't come easy and the three talk about how some of the yoga postures are very challenging and take a lot of practice.
They also give a little history of yoga and have fun with some of the Sanskrit names.
Lauren is 16 and teaches the opening meditation and yoga poses starting with diaphragmatic breathing. She then introduces a series of floor postures to warm up.
The class then flows into standing postures where Emily, age 13 and Lauren take turns teaching. Jessica, also 13, (Emily's twin) demonstrates all the postures, and teaches the poses as well.
The class then comes to completion with Emily teaching an assortment of seated postures and ends with a guided relaxation.
The class can be practiced in approximately 40 minutes or can be done in three shorter segments, as your time permits.
Watch the TV commercial!
Reviews and Letters for Yoga by Teens
9/17/2006
Dear Parsons Teens,
I was VERY impressed by your Yoga DVD for teens or really anyone of any age who wants a lovely introduction to yoga. Your DVD is inspiring and you all do a lovely job explaining and performing the variations with poise. Your enjoyment working together in making this DVD comes through as well and makes it fun to join in. I wish you much success with this venture and all of your future endeavors. This is a quality product for which you should be very proud.
Warmest Regards,
Gail Milliken
The DVD was reviewed in the February 2007 issue of LA YOGA Magazine.
This article was published by the Santa Barbara New-Press in their Youth Spotlight section in September 2006.
This TRI-LINE article was published in the Spring/Summer 2006 TRI-LINE, A publication of the Tri Counties Regional Center covering Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo Counties
"Yoga by Teens" is a testimony to the possibility for peaceful teenagers in a very hectic world! This video
flowed... like all yoga should! Highly recommended!"
Kathy Barbini, Documentary Producer
9/12/06
Hi Parsons Family:
You Rock!
We absolutely LOVE the yoga video. Jeff and I watched the video thoroughly. Beginning to End, Front to Back, clicking on all links too! Everything was seamless. Terrific. The setting, the stars, everything was really truly impressive. It just seems like such a great video for everybody. LOVE IT!!!!
Two Thumbs UP~ Way UP~
xoxoxoxoxoxoxox
The Carrolls
9/07/06
Hi,
We loved the dvd. The setting is beautiful and your kids are great teachers! I'm so impressed that they are so strong and flexible. I really love look and feel of the sun salutation - beautiful imagery.
Leah (age 13) wrote this...
"Lauren, Jessica and Emily give a great workout. The setting is nice and the poses have a nice stretch. The dvd is great. It is fun to see my friends on a dvd."
Kathy
8/22/06
Wow Sue Anne, I'm so impressed with the professionalism of your girls. They did that video like it was second nature, so calm and so talented. You and your husband have raised daughters who are going into the world with so many talents. Congratulations to all of you.
Our 10 year old grandson was really interested.
Issy
12/10/06
Dear Lauren, Emily and Jessica, I finished viewing your amazing "Yoga By Teens" DVD. It provides the physical and mental lift that only yoga can do. The quality of the DVD is amazing! Your voices and instructions are soft and easy to follow; the settings are varied, natural and beautiful! Although I learned "not to be competitive" long ago... Watching Jessica do a full Lotus brought back all my memories of working to try and accomplish that posture... with no success! Congratulations and Thank You!
Kathy Gebhardt
School Library Journal DVD Review 12/2006:
Video/DVD
By Staff -- 12/1/2006
Health
Grade 6 and Up - Three teenage sisters demonstrate basic Hatha yoga poses that are suitable for teens and others new to yoga. All three seem very comfortable with the poses and are knowledgeable about the correct posture for them. The DVD begins with a disclaimer and encourages viewers to go slowly and be mindful of any pain or discomfit. At the beginning of the program, the girls provide an informative introduction to yoga. For each pose, one of the teens explains the pose while the other two demonstrate. The youngest sister models a modified pose which is helpful for beginners. The DVD can be watched in its entirety or viewers can select either the floor, standing, or seated classes. The program was filmed outdoors and occasionally the sound is muffled, but overall the production quality is good. Bonus features include interviews, sun salutation routines, and a glossary of yoga terms. This excellent, well-paced introduction to yoga will appeal to teens.
- Wendy Woodfill, Hennepin County Library, Minnetonka, MN