A Randomized Control Trial of the Effects of a Hatha Yoga Program on Psychological Well-Being

Hatha yoga is a common style of yoga used for physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual benefits, enhancing quality of life and well-being. The current study used a randomized control trial (RCT) to investigate whether completing an eight-week posture-based Hatha yoga program would lead to greater psychological benefits than taking part in an eight-week lecture series about the history and philosophy of yoga. Fifty-five participants (42 female, age range 18-32) completed five self-report measures both before and after an eight-week yoga-related intervention (Hatha yoga or yoga lectures). The self-report measures related to participants’ affective state (Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale), emotion dysregulation (Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale), interoceptive awareness (Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness), trait mindfulness, (Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire), and self-compassion (Self-Compassion Scale). All interventions were taught by the first author, a trained yoga instructor. Results indicated that those in the yoga program, but not in the education program, showed significant improvement on measures of stress, mindfulness, and interoception. Mediation analyses revealed that mindfulness was a mediator between yoga program and depression, anxiety, and stress. Emotion dysregulation was a mediator between yoga program and both depression and stress. Finally, interoceptive awareness was a mediator between yoga program and depression. These results suggest that a short, posture-based yoga practice produces benefits in multiple areas of functioning with underlying mechanisms highlighting the importance of mindfulness, interoceptive awareness, and emotional regulation.