New research proves mental well-being through yoga

Most ‘yogis’ will already be quite sure of this, but it never hurts to have research back things up! According to a pilot study in the April journal of Developmental & Behavioural Pediatrics published today, yoga classes have positive psychological effects for high-school students. Since mental health disorders commonly develop in the teenage years, “Yoga may serve a preventive role in adolescent mental health,” according to the new study, led by Jessica Noggle, PhD, of Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston. “Fifty-one 11th- and 12th-grade students registered for physical education (PE) at a Massachusetts high school were randomly assigned to yoga or regular PE classes. Students completed a battery of psychosocial tests before and after the ten-week yoga program – teens taking yoga classes had better scores on several of the psychological tests. Specifically, while students in regular PE classes tended to have increased scores for mood problems and anxiety, those taking yoga classes stayed the same or showed improvement. Negative emotions also worsened in students taking regular PE, while improving in those taking yoga.”
So perhaps yoga during pregnancy will set those family patterns and routines in place which will serve your family’s well-being long into the future. Nice to think something so enjoyable for you could empower your child in years to come.