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Objective * To examine yoga's effects on inner-city children's well-being.
Methods * This pilot study compared fourth- and fifth-grade students at 2 after-school programs in Bronx, New York. One program offered yoga 1 hour per week for 12 weeks (yoga) and the other program (non-yoga) did not. Preintervention and postintervention emotional well-being was assessed by Harter's Global Self-Worth and Physical Appearance subscales, which were the study's primary outcome measures. Secondary outcomes included other measures of emotional well-being assessed by 2 new scales: Perceptions of Physical Health and Yoga Teachings (including Negative Behaviors, Positive Behaviors, and Focusing/relaxation subscales). Preintervention and postintervention, physical well-being was assessed by measures of flexibility and balance. Subjective ratings of yoga's effects on well-being were evaluated by an additional questionnaire completed by the yoga group only.
Results * Data were collected from 78% (n=39) and 86.5% (n=32) of potential yoga and non-yoga study enrollees. No differences in baseline demographics were found. Controlling for preintervention well-being differences using analysis of covariance, we found that children in the yoga group had better postintervention Negative Behaviors scores and balance than the non-yoga group (P<.05). The majority of children participating in yoga reported enhanced well-being, as reflected by perceived improvements in behaviors directly targeted by yoga (eg, strength, flexibility, balance).
Conclusions * Although no significant differences were found in the study's primary outcomes (global self-worth and perceptions of physical well-being), children participating in yoga reported using fewer negative behaviors in response to stress and had better balance than a comparison group. Improvements in well-being, specifically in behaviors directly targeted by yoga, were reported. These results suggest a possible role of yoga as a preventive intervention as well as a means of improving children's perceived well-being.
(Altern Ther Health Med. 2009;15(5):36-42.)
Yoga, the oldest known system of personal development, emerged thousands of years ago from the Indian culture.' A traditional yoga practice most commonly includes controlled breathing, which is believed to help the mind focus and modulate the autonomic nervous system, thereby promoting relaxation; physical postures, including standing, balancing, forward bending, back bending, and twisting poses, which are believed to strengthen the body and increase flexibility; and relaxation and meditation, which are believed to calm and focus the mind. These aspects of yoga are interrelated and...