In April 2012, researchers from Harvard Medical School published their findings in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics showing that yoga improved the psychosocial well-being of high school students.

A total of 51 students in grades 11 and 12 were randomly assigned to participate in their regular physical education class or a Kripalu-based yoga class. The classes were held two to three times weekly for 10 weeks. The yoga classes included physical postures, breathing exercises, relaxation and meditation. 

The students filled out self-report questionnaires one week before the class started and one week after the study was completed. Researchers also used tests to further evaluate the students’ mood and well-being. 

The researchers found that the mood, anxiety and overall well-being actually worsened in the PE-as-usual group, while mood and anxiety improved significantly for the students in the yoga group. 

The researchers concluded: “Implementation [of the yoga class] was feasible and students generally found it beneficial. These results are consistent with previously published studies of yoga in school settings.”

In January 2012, researchers, also from Harvard Medical School, published the results of their study or 121 high school students in the Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research. Again, some students participated in regular PE and some participated in an 11-week yoga class. The researchers also found a worsening of mental health in the PE participants over time, while the yoga group showed some improvement in mood, anxiety, perceived stress, resilience and other mental health variables.  

The researchers concluded that yoga in a high school setting “has the potential of playing a protective or preventive role in maintaining mental health.”