Editor's Choice Academic Journal Main Category: Mental Health Also Included In: Sports Medicine / Fitness;Complementary Medicine / Alternative Medicine;Pediatrics / Children's Health Article Date: 30 Apr 2012 - 0:00 PDT

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The study involved 51 students from the 11th- and 12th-grade who were registered for physical education (PE) at a Massachusetts high school. Two thirds of the students were randomly assigned to Kripalu yoga classes that consisted of physical yoga postures as well as breathing exercises, relaxation, and meditation, whilst the remaining third was assigned to regular PE classes.

Before and after the 10-week course, all 51 students completed a range of psychosocial tests, including tests to measure their mood and tension and/or anxiety.

The authors also assessed the students' development of self-regulatory skills, including their resilience, control of anger expression, and mindfulness, which are believed to protect against developing mental health problems.

The results showed that students in the yoga group scored better in several of the psychological tests. The authors noted in particular that students in the control group were more likely to have higher scores for mood problems and anxiety, as compared with those in the yoga group whose scores remained unchanged or improved.

Yoga appears to have preventative benefits for adolescent mental health

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Yoga May Help Prevent Adolescent Mental Problems