Charity yoga session to improve teen mental health

The event was to raise money for HOPE Charity Project that aims to help children and teens in need of mental health support.

Tracy Harris set up Summerhouse Yoga in 2010 but had always resisted teaching children or teenagers, however the spike in teenage suicide and poor mental health around Horsham encouraged her to change this.

It has been proven that yoga has a positive impact on mental health as well as other health issues.

Tracy first discovered yoga in 1997 as part of her rehabilitation from a road accident, she said: “For me, practicing yoga is a simple choice - it keeps the pain away! It makes me feel free and at ease in my body and mind.”

In her yoga teaching Tracy has worked with complete beginners, experienced yogis, students with Cancer, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s, Motor Neurone Disease, rehabilitation after Stroke, people with hip replacements, pregnant students and now teenagers.

Tracy currently trains with The Teen Yoga Foundation who are the foremost provider for yoga for teenagers in the UK.

Summerhouse Yoga hosts regular charity events including three via Zoom during lockdown, raising money for MIND, Kidney Care UK and Flitecrew Sports club.

Tracy said: ”I have regular charity classes, to raise funds and awareness of issues close to my heart. Including for the charity Crohn’s and Colitis UK as my daughter, Emma, now age 17, was diagnosed with Crohn’s at age 10, and has continuing health issues. And recently for the local charity HOPE to support teenagers with mental health issues.”

Tracy explained that she was approached to teach yoga at Millais school following several incidents regarding poor mental health.

Tracy is hosting another charity yoga session for teenagers at The Kinder Living Show on Friday and Saturday, March 4 and 5.

After that, she hopes to make the teen workshops more regular.

For more information and classes, visit https://summerhouseyoga.co.uk/