Effects of a Yoga Program on Health, Behaviour and Learning Ability in School Children: A Single Arm Observational Study

Abstract

1.1.Background:Learning difficulties, Stress and behavioural problems are widely prevalent in high school children that contribute to dropouts and poor performance. Yoga as a mind body intervention has been shown to improve performance in pilot studies. In this large observational study we assess the impact of yoga intervention on learning, cognitive abilities, behaviour and health in high school children. 1.2.Methods:Seven hundred and sixty eight schools across fifty talukas in Karnataka with around seven thousand six hundred and one children were assessed on improvements in learning, cognition, behaviour and health following two months of yoga intervention. Physical education teachers from these schools were trained to impart yoga intervention over two months to students of both higher primary and high school. Assessments were done by class teachers and parents of students who were not involved in imparting intervention. 1.3.Results:There was a significant improvement in health, learning ability, cognitive ability, behaviour, and positive emotions and decrease in negative emotions (all p’s<0.001). The effect size of change was modest for emotions, behaviour and cognitive ability and large for learning ability and health. 1.4.Conclusion:The results suggest beneficial effects of yoga intervention in higher primary and high school children.