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.