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"May is not a sprint. It's a marathon — and every marathon runner knows you have to pace yourself to cross the finish line."
Can you feel it? May has arrived and the calendar is absolutely packed. Field trips, finals, spring performances, sports playoffs, graduations, end-of-year parties all layered on top of regular life, regular work, and regular everything. For kids and adults alike, May is one of the most physically and emotionally demanding months of the year.
At It's Yoga Kids®, we call it Marathon May and we take it seriously. Because when we rush through this season without pausing to breathe, stretch, and recover, bodies and minds pay the price. And for our young athletes especially, that price can be high.
Don't tear your ACL — or your spirit
Here's something that might surprise you: young female athletes are up to eight times more likely to suffer ACL tears than their male counterparts. Research from Mass General Brigham and Cedars-Sinai confirms that girls are disproportionately affected particularly in sports involving jumping, cutting, and quick pivots like soccer, basketball, and volleyball.
The good news? Many of these injuries stem from modifiable factors like strength imbalances, poor landing mechanics, and lack of neuromuscular control — which means they are largely preventable. The not-so-good news? Marathon May is exactly when these risks spike. Tired bodies make mistakes. Overloaded schedules skip the warm-up. And the relentless push to the finish line leaves no room for recovery.
Girls are absolutely physical — not fragile. They are showing up and competing with power and heart. It is our job as parents, educators, and leaders to make sure we protect that power by building the strength and body awareness they need to stay in the game.
The silence your brain is craving
It's not just bodies that need a break in May. Minds do too. Research shows that Americans now listen to nearly four hours of audio content daily and that constant stream of podcasts, music, and noise functions much like screen time, triggering dopamine and making true rest harder to reach.
When we finally let the noise stop, something remarkable happens. The brain's default mode network activates; the part that helps us process emotions, daydream, make meaning, and restore. Silence isn't empty. It's where recovery lives.
This is exactly what yoga does. It invites the body to move with intention and the mind to finally be still. In a month that never stops, that stillness is medicine.
5 ways to protect kids (and yourself) through Marathon May
🧘 Stretch and strengthen daily. Yoga builds the hip, glute, and hamstring strength that protects knees and prevents injury. Even 10 minutes a day makes a measurable difference for young athletes.
🌬️ Breathe before you begin. A two-minute breath practice before activity primes the nervous system, sharpens focus, and reduces the risk of the distracted, rushed mistakes that lead to injury.
🔇 Create pockets of silence. Turn off the noise on the drive home. Let dinner be screen-free. Give kids (and yourself) the gift of quiet so the brain can rest, reset, and process the day.
😴 Guard sleep fiercely. Fatigue is one of the biggest risk factors for sports injuries. When kids are tired, coordination and reaction time drop. Sleep is not a luxury in May — it's protection.
📅 Say no to one thing. Not every invitation in May needs a yes. Choosing rest is not dropping the ball, it's modeling the boundaries and self-awareness we want our children to learn.
The finish line is closer than you think
Marathon May will end. Summer is coming. But how you run these final weeks matters, for your body, your child's body, and everyone's peace of mind. Pace yourself. Breathe. Stretch. Rest. You don't have to sprint to the finish line to cross it strong. 💚
At It's Yoga Kids®, we believe physical fitness and mental health are not separate goals — they are the same goal. Stay strong. Be calm. And take care of yourself and your children all the way to the last day of school and beyond.