5 . As a way to connect the mind, body and spirit, now, yoga is practiced or celebrated all over the world by adults and teens.     1     How can yoga actually benefit children in the long run? Here are some benefits of yoga for kids.

·It helps with self-control.

Self-control is an important part of a child’s development. Kids who can practice self-control are better at maintaining friendships and making decisions. Studies show that kids who routinely practice yoga are also less impulsive (易冲动的).     2    

·It reduces stress and anxiety.

Kids need stress relief tools, too! In fact, reports show that children’s anxiety levels may have doubled as a result of stress in daily life and school.     3     These techniques help kids comfort their minds, which in turn comforts their bodies, so yoga is a great tool for kids to use to work through their stress and anxiety.

·It improves focus and attention.

Concentration is a tough skill for many young kids to master!     4     After a while of practicing yoga, children develop the ability to concentrate for longer periods of time. This is a skill that will greatly benefit children when they enter school.

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Another incredible benefit of yoga is that regular practice helps children learn to believe in themselves and their own capabilities. They will feel proud of themselves when they master a new move and can demonstrate (演示) all the different poses that they know.

6 . New research published in the journal BMJ Open Sport and Exercise Medicine indicates that men and younger adults have been less physically active during the COVID-19 lockdown.

The study, led by Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) and Ulster University, includes data from 911 UK adults who took part in an online survey which began on 17 March. The research found that 75% of UK adults had met the World Health Organization’s physical activity recommendations of 150 minutes of middling physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous (剧烈的) physical activity per week, since the introduction of social distancing regulations. This is higher than previous studies carried out before the COVID-19 pandemic, which found that between 58% and 66% of the UK adult population typically meet physical activity guidelines.

The new study found that women, older adults, and those with a higher annual household income were significantly more likely to meet the WHO’s physical activity guidelines. This is the opposite of studies carried out before the pandemic, where men and younger adults were found to have higher levels of physical activity.

Lead author Dr Lee Smith, Reader in Physical Activity and Public Health at ARU, said, “ The overall levels of physical activity are higher than we were expecting. It may be that the UK public have experienced an increase in free time and used this time to be physically active. Additionally, during the early stages of the outbreak, one of the few reasons to leave home was to take part in an hour of exercise. As well as offering a reason to go outside, this may have served as a target for some people. ”

Typically, the proportion (比例) of UK adults meeting physical activity guidelines declines with age. Therefore, there should be additional support offered to older adults to encourage them to sustain this level of physical activity post pandemic.

9 . A new study out of Canada suggests teenagers should spend less time looking at screens and more time getting involved in activities. The findings published in the journal Preventive Medicine were based on a survey of 28,000 7th graders in British Columbia.

They answered questions about how much time they spent watching TV, streaming videos ₉ playing video games and how much time they spent on after-school activities like sports and music programs. Then they ranked how good they felt about each day when they woke up. From their answers, researchers concluded that teens who spent more time on activities were mentally healthier and less anxious and depressed than those who spent more time on screens. And the study suggested that extra screen time was especially harmful to girls. For them, researchers say the negative effects were stronger.

So how much screen time is too much? The Canadian Pediatric Society says all teens should have less than two hours of screen time per day and that guideline was factored into the study. But it’s important to point out that the information about it was gathered between 2014 and 2018, years before the CO VID hit. And this year, with fewer opportunities to see friends and participate in after-school events, teenagers have shown higher levels of depression and anxiety according to other research.

The lead author of the Canadian study says even though it’s harder to do, it’s still important to find ways for teens to safely get involved with programs and hobbies away from screens.

10 . Exercise for a Better Brain

Most of the time, your brain is the boss of your muscle—directing how you hit a ball, play the piano, or open a cereal box.    1    When you're active, they send chemical signals telling your brain, "Hey, it's time to grow!" Recent research suggests physical activity is good for your brain and encourages the birth and growth of new brain cells.

In a study, people who ran for 45 minutes three days a week boosted their levels of a brain-derived neurotrophic（神经营养的）factor, a chemical that acts like fertilizer for new brain cells.    2    

Studies suggest that in younger adults, exercise can add to the overall number of cell in the hippocampus（海马体）.    3    It's a good deal because these new brain cells are very active and get involved in more memory circuits than older cells do. At any age, you might notice that you have an easier time remembering things after you start a new exercise.

    4    If you're inactive, walking around the block may be the only way to encourage neuroplasticity. People who don't like to move but tried to walk daily by 7500 steps or more had bigger brains than those who didn't exercise—the same to 1.4 to 2.2 fewer years of brain aging. So it is advisable for people at any age to get involved in light activity, such as doing housework, shopping, gardening, or walking the dog.    5