Improvement in Children’s Mental Health and Cognitive Abilities with Yogic Breathing: A Pilot Study
Abstract
Introduction: Children as young as 6 or 7 years old face numerous
stressful situations at home and outside their homes. During this time,
when learning and growth should be the priority, young minds often
struggle with constant pressure to compete with their peers in their
academic careers. This study examines the effects of a breath-based
yogic technique in improving the child’s mental health and cognition.
Method: A study was conducted among the students who underwent
the yogic breathing workshop (Utkarsha Yoga). Cognition was measured
using the six-letter cancellation test (SCLT). The mental well-being of the
students was assessed using the World Health Organization well-being
index (WHO-5) and the Child Perceived Stress Scale (C-PSS).
Results: 73% of the population showed a significant improvement in the
mental well-being post-workshop. 56% of the population experienced
a significant decrease in stress levels post yogic breathing intervention
and by following the programme, the cognitive abilities improved by
27% in children.
Conclusion: The results for this pilot study demonstrate the Yogic
Breathing Technique (YBT) to be an effective tool for children to develop
a calm and happy state of mind.
How to cite this article:
Kanchibhotla D, Subramanian S. Improvement in
Children’s Mental Health and Cognitive Abilities
with Yogic Breathing: A Pilot Study. Ind J Youth
Adol Health. 2021;8(3):1-4.
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