Effect of short duration integrated classroom yoga module on physical fitness cognitive performance emotional well being and personality characteristic measures of school children A randomized controlled trial design

Abstract

Two themes in children s education have received a great deal of attention in the last few newlinedecades. One concerns the stresses children face, leading to a high prevalence of child and newlineadolescent mental health (CAMH) issues. The other is a disturbing trend in dysfunctional youth newlinebehavior. These themes have led thinkers to advocate giving weightage to social emotional newlinelearning (SEL), educating the whole child and focusing on character education along with newlineacademic knowledge. This thinking reflects, to a large extent, the Indian ethos of education, newlineas articulated by thinkers like Swami Vivekananda and J Krishnamurti, and, as seen in the newlineancient Indian gurukula system of education. newlineThe present study hypothesized that the purpose of equipping children with the power of newlineconcentration, SEL and good character may be well served by meaningfully integrating yoga newlinewith education. Its purpose was threefold: newline1. To build a theoretical model of yoga in education based on ancient yogic knowledge newlineand modern scientific research. newline2. To develop and validate a school-based short duration Integrated Classroom Yoga newlineModule (ICYM). The present study observed that though schools were aware of the newlinebenefits of yoga, most had either not incorporated yoga in the school curriculum or had newlinedone so sub-optimally, usually one class a week. The reasons ranged from lack of time, newlinea packed schedule and the need for resources like yoga rooms, yoga mats and trained newlineyoga instructors. An efficacious short duration ICYM could potentially overcome such newlinechallenges and pave the way for yoga s inclusion in the daily schedule. newline3. To provide empirical evidence of the effect of the short duration ICYM on physical newlinefitness, cognitive performance, emotional well-being and personality characteristic newlinemeasures of school children through a methodologically rigorous study. newlineAIMS AND OBJECTIVES newlineAim newlineTo study the effect of a short duration ICYM on physical fitness, cognitive performance, newlineemotional well-being and personality characteristic measures of school ch