PRESS RELEASE
Teamwork Brings Multiple Rewards
To Teens In Crisis

The International Breath Institute (IBI) of Boulder Breathes new energy into the Colorado Youth at Risk Program of Denver.

With all of the disheartening reports about teen violence and anti-social behavior, it is very encouraging to hear of programs, which have a positive impact on adolescents here in Colorado and across the nation.

One such effort is the Colorado Youth At Risk (YAR) organization's "Steps Ahead for Youth" Program, currently active in the Denver area. Thanks to a collaborative effort with the International Breath Institute (IBI), with headquarters in Boulder, the organization has recently made promising strides. And none too soon.

Problems among adolescents are mounting, demanding our attention.
There is a rising tide of violence among teens today, accompanied by a growing incidence of psychological problems such as drug abuse, alcohol consumption, obesity, learning disorders and a general disassociation from society. Therefore, when programs such as "Steps Ahead for Youth" come along that actually have a positive impact, they ought to be held up as models.

Today, troubled teens in Colorado are benefiting from this no-nonsense program which combines YAR's one-on-one mentoring and structured follow-through methods, along with IBI's expertise in breathing and emotional management. This strategy of teamwork is working wonders.

Part of the team, which is championing the program in Denver, are Margaret Townsend and Allison Howard, certified IBI facilitators. "Our goal with Colorado Youth at Risk is to teach adolescents Full Wave Breathing™ as a tool to manage their emotions and stress," said Ms Howard.

"We thought that if they could change their emotional states by choice, they would experience a sense of self-empowerment which they could utilize for the rest of their lives," added Ms Townsend. Colorado YAR presents young people with options they have not been exposed to, helping them realize they can make positive choices. Together, Colorado YAR/IBI have enabled young people to learn self-control, and a greater awareness of personal management skills which enhance rather than threaten their search for individual identity.

Patti Bennett, "Steps Ahead for Youth" Program Director says "I've seen IBI's Full Wave Breathing work. It's a simple tool that kids can use.a practical, everyday tool." Colorado YAR is helping kids see big changes in their own lives, changes that they themselves bring about in the way they handle their emotions and manage their feelings.

Through this collective effort, Townsend and Howard have introduced many youths to a new relationship with their breathing. As one component of a 10-month program, IBI's proprietary Full Wave Breath exercises have been proven to help many people, including these teens, to ease their stress, manage their emotions and bring clarity to their thinking. In the words of a young female teen (name withheld) following an individual breathing session - "I should use this instead of getting high."

An ideal balance of support with accountability.
In the past, there have been numerous attempts to assist young people to overcome their problems. Some programs have been viewed as too lenient and even patronizing. These have been condemned for exacerbating the problems and for giving 'license' to young people to behave badly. At the other extreme, some programs have been vilified for being too harsh. The results of either extreme can be disastrous, pushing kids away from those who really want to help, sending them back into continuing self-destructive behavior. There is no doubt that a critical balance is required to have the right effect. In addition, it appears that the "Step Ahead / IBI" team has found that balance and put it into practice.

For every generation of teens it's different - but also the same.
Adults, even young adults in their 20s and 30s, have short memories. Once they've succeeded in passing through the trials of adolescence, they have the tendency to forget the difficulties they faced. While each generation of young people faces a different set of social and personal problems, there are similarities to those problems, which every generation of young people faces. All young people are challenged with sexual maturity, emotional upheaval, peer group pressures, and the battle for personal independence and self-identity.

The "Steps Ahead for Youth"/ IBI program recognizes this and makes a very conscious effort to treat today's teens as a unique group. Moreover, it goes one major step further, recognizing each individual within this group as a special, unique case. IBI's breathing facilitators win the respect of the group, by respecting the individuality of each teen in the program. This is particularly important to today's adolescents, as parents and teachers of these young people would testify.

Ms Townsend and Ms Howard have consistently found that stress triggers the 'fight or flight' response, affecting emotional states. This response is accompanied by restricted, shallow, upper-chest breathing. They went on to describe what occurred at a recent session conducted by the alliance-

"During the breath session, we observed that the majority of the teens had already developed restricted breathing patterns. However, as they breathed and passed through moments of discomfort from embarrassment, we noticed their bodies softening and relaxing. As we walked around the room and asked how they were feeling, the most common response was, 'More relaxed.'"

The resident Colorado YAR trainer noticed a dramatic change in one young man's attitude and demeanor after breathing. "Before the breath session, he seemed resistant and angry. Afterwards, he began to participate with a more positive attitude." She noted that his comment was "When I first came in here, I was pissed off. Now I'm cool!"

Problems of adolescents are everyone's problems.
The success of the "Steps Ahead for Youth" Program is undeniable, as are the positive effects of IBI's breathing exercises upon the young people of Denver. However, to say that the problems facing adolescents are all solved would be an exercise in denial.

Burying our collective heads in the sand, refusing to recognize the personal problems that this generation of young people faces on its way to adulthood will only serve to perpetuate and magnify the problems. Complaining about how these issues make our lives unpleasant, without being willing to help, is no solution at all.

Moving ahead with YAR's "Step Ahead" Program.
Claudette Faison, President of Youth At Risk International, expressed her approval of the collaboration between then "Steps Ahead for Youth" Program and IBI, Saying, "We see we're a match. Not all young people can speak about what's going on within themselves. TransformBreathing provides a non-verbal process which allows young people to feel the sense of freedom they need in order to express themselves."

The positive results of this program are a perfect example of how teamwork can work wonders. So, to help young people face their individual challenges, here in Colorado and across the country, programs of this kind must be recognized, supported, and promoted.

Incidentally, young people haven't cornered the market on stress and emotional problems, as most adults would agree. In fact, IBI has been conducting seminars and workshops for adults for the past eight years, resulting in a multitude of success stories.