The YES! Program for Teens

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The YES! Course is fun and awesome! The breathing techniques made me calm and centered. They also made me feel energized. I feel refreshed and eager to go out and fix problems! I highly recommend this course!" - Becca, 15, MI

Glade ungdommer fra YES og yogakurs
Glede

Youth Empowerment Seminar (YES!)
Program for Teens Ages 14 - 18


  • The art of making friends (the secret of popularity)
  • Personal responsibility (the value of service)

Both fun and challenging, this 18 hour seminar provides teens with a comprehensive toolbox to both manage their own emotions and stress as well as dynamically navigate through adolescence. The program broadens youth's vision of the world and provides practical knowledge and skills they need to realize their highest potential.

Independent research has also shown that the processes learned on YES! reduce anger, violence and depression, as well as improve focus, clarity of mind and concentration.

Yoga, pusteteknikker, meditasjon og kunnskap om livet frigjør stress og knytter bånd.
YES! Her er vi!

What are the benefits?

  • Reduced stress
  • Increased concentration & focus
  • Ability to manage negative emotions
  • Improved self-esteem & confidence
  • Enhanced brain function
  • Greater creativity

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Before I came here I was really stressed out. Little things made me angry. I learned to get rid of the anger and free my mind from all the clutter. If I get angry I just do the breathing and it makes me feel better.
- Matt, middle school student


Uhemmet og uskyldig lek
Varme

Main Aspects of the YES! Program
  1. Physical – Dynamic body exercises, yoga and innovative breathing techniques.

  2. Mental – Practical knowledge to eliminate counter productive activity and enhance learning ability; Techniques and interactive processes to improve memory, concentration & focus.

  3. Social – Experiential processes to develop problem solving strategies and social skills; Interactive games to develop leadership and life skills; Teamwork exercises to teach cooperation and conflict resolution.

  4. Emotional – Dynamic group discussions designed to help teens feel at ease in challenging situations, and increase confidence and inner strength to better handle criticism and peer pressure.

Follow-Up - Empowering Students

Gruppearbeid om miljøvern og å redde regnskogen
Kreative og morsomme prosesser

Service to the community is an integral part of the YES! program. Students design and implement their own volunteer project, taking responsibility for themselves and their community.

This develops an attitude of service toward others, caring for the planet and a healthy sense of accomplishment.

Upon completion of this six-session program, YES! graduates participate in weekly follow-up sessions during which students refresh their understanding of the techniques learned and with the support of adult mentors, implement their service projects. Youth develop leadership skills, strengthen their discipline in practicing the relaxation and breathing techniques, complete service projects, and continue to foster human values education.



Our toughest critics - the teens themselves - give this program Rave Reviews.


The YES! Course is a good method to make friends and learn fun techniques for life. The breathing practices helped me to focus more.
- Nikil, 15, CA

YES! for Teens: Testimonials



YES! is something that empowers youth physically and mentally. The breathing allowed me to stop thinking about stressful things and allowed me to clear my mind. I like how much relaxation it brought to me. I felt a lot more focused at the end of the course.” - Sterling, 17, NYC

"I enjoyed the course because I learned how to control my anger through meditation. I learned that by nature I am non-violent and that violence is not needed to survive. I also learned to socialize better and about five factors that will help me in my journey through life. Thanks!" - Nelson, 16, NYC

This program/course has been an incredible experience for me not only mentally, but also my performance in other things I do such as tennis. I’ve become a calmer, more focused and concentrated person where I used to not be able to really calm myself and my mind down. I’ve also improved a lot in tennis because I’m able to become more focused, and being button proof helped me to understand my dad more when he coaches me. I’ve really enjoyed this class and I look forward to taking it again.
- Chloe Chang


Overveldende kritikker fra de tøffeste kritikerne
Tilbakemeldinger fra YES! kursene

"The YES program has made a significant change in my life. Before, I would go to school grumpy and upset due to things that had occurred the day before. I wouldn't do well in school and I'd lash out at people for no reason. After I took the YES program, I used the breathing techniques they taught me to calm myself down. I no longer was grumpy and upset, but jolly and friendly. I gained many friends through the YES program and even my grades are higher. Everyone in the YES program was supportive and caring toward me and the other students. It was a great experience and I will never forget it nor the people in it." - Melissa, Los Angeles

"I am proud to say that the YES program has made a HUGE difference in my life! When I experienced the YES program for the first time, I was amazed! I let go of emotions I had kept bottled up inside. My attitude toward people in school changed. I learned to appreciate people whom before I used to take for granted. It brought my best friend (who took the course too) and I closer together. What I enjoyed the most was the support I received from the YES instructors and new friendships made. The YES program was an amazing experience that I will always carry in my heart." - Liz, Los Angeles

 

"The YES! Course is a great way for young people to deal with their inner problems and improve their lives and way of living. The breathing practices bring me into the present moment and centers me in my body. By the end of the course I felt incredible!" - Brooks, 16, WA

“YES! was interesting. You learn a lot of useful techniques. I liked the Kriya because it relaxes you and in some way you become aware. The breathing helped in having self-confidence whenever needed and how to calm yourself when you are angry or upset. I feel fortunate that I came to take this course because now I can practice yoga on my own and have the privilege of knowing how to calm myself whenever I get upset.” - Rosa, 17, NYC

“I think I learned a lot this week. All of the lessons make sense and can help me make life a smoother ride, but the challenge of applying them starts now. I have always been a person who worries too much about what others think…the exercises and discussions we experienced this week will give me some more strength and confidence to face the many challenges I will soon face in the approaching year of college.” - Sameer Agrawal

“Through the course I got to learn some relaxation and meditation techniques that I really find fun and beneficial. I also appreciated the kindness and openness everyone showed throughout the course. I am really glad I got to meet people who are so different from the people I usually hang out with. I liked the discussion of different topics everyday. They really applied to my life and made me think.”
- Melissa V. Llamera

Å tømme sinnet er deilig, og blir enklere og enklere med øvelse.
Meditasjon er ganske enkelt å slappe av her og nå
“I would definitely recommend this course to other people. I know a lot of people who stress out very easily, and this course seriously let me calm down. It is somewhere where they don’t have to worry about school or anything outside, it is somewhere where you can be yourself for a moment and just kind of get to know who you are. I think it helped me to get a lot of emotions out because I do bottle my emotions. The day after the kriya I felt like I was happy for the first time in a while because I put a lot of stress on myself... I really liked the dancing, because I am the type of person who would never dance in front of anyone in the world, and YES! let me do what I wanted to do without worrying about what other people thought.” - Niveditha Poola

“I like that we do these type of yoga things and it calms our mind because as high school students we have a lot of stress on our hands, but with this class we can relax and calm down and when we go home we can do our homework and everything with a clear mind and not worry about anything.” - Los Angeles High School Student

"I can honestly say that this course was one of the best experiences of my life up until now. When I left each session I felt so much better about myself. I felt like I can get through any test, problem or obstacle and my self-esteem was certainly uplifted. Overall the breathing seminar has given me something that I can use for the rest of my life. I would most definitely recommend the class to anyone, especially my peers. These days every day there seems to be something contributing to our level of stress and it seems impossible to relieve. The people who take this class are the lucky ones and the ones who will always be ahead of the game in school and in life in general."
- Sajma, 16, NYC

"What I enjoyed about the course was that I learned to relax. It was an opportunity to get away from my usual environment, meet new people, play games, meditate, breathe. All in all I enjoyed being able to be myself! Thank you!" - Mallika, 17, NYC

Massasje hører med for de som vil
Ta vare på hverandre
“My overall experience wasn’t just good, it was actually great. I enjoyed YES! a lot and I didn’t think I would, I just sort of thought it would be mediocre, but I got so much but of it. I think it improved me as a person; my character and my outlook on life. Before I was a little less sure of myself but now I feel more full. After the kriya I felt calm, like there were no more waves in the water. I liked how we talked about a lot of things, like a lot of the problems we face in everyday life, it touched really deep I guess and I wasn’t expecting it to. I would recommend this to probably everyone I know because all of them have problems that are just like mine, it would help so many people... I’m really grateful for this opportunity. I’m grateful for the course and the people who provide and allow for kids like us to do this for pretty much nothing at all.”
- Demetra Powell

“It helped me to breathe better and I haven’t needed my asthma pump. I feel fortunate that I can to take this course because now I can practice yoga on my own and have the privilege of knowing how to calm myself whenever I get upset, etc.” - Mack, 17, NYC

"I think everyone should do the YES! Course because the Kriya changes you and really develops you. I noticed this whole week that I was in a better mood. I was happy and relaxed. And the course is fun! I feel like a different person and I learned so much!"
- Hannah, 15, NV

"YES! Has interesting and deep points about how to live life happily. The breathing exercises help me to feel much more energetic and happy. I am waking up earlier and I don't feel like sleeping 24/7! I feel very good as if I am a better person. YES! Should stand for Young Exceptional Students!" - Olivia, 15, CA

"YES! Is really great! I liked meeting new people and having discussions about real life things we [as teens] need advice on. The breathing exercises made me more aware of my breath and helped me with my asthma. The course is a place where you can learn the art of living and the relation of breath to life."
- Claudia, 13, NYC

 

Ungdommene viser yoga asanas på en strand
Yoga på stranda


Vi elsker livet!Contacts for YES!
Norway

 

Rune S. Vik epost: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Phone: +47 957 85 603

Frank Schmidt epost: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Phone: +47 938 17 780










The YES! Program is sponsored by The Art of Living Foundation (AOLF), which is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) educational and humanitarian organization. AOLF is an international NGO in special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

The local branch of Art of Living Foundation, Art of Living Foundation - Norway is a government-approved charitable volunteer organization, registered by Skattedirektoratet.