A mother and son sit with their eyes closed and their palms pressed together

Briefings

Youth on Yoga

By Christine Grillo

For urban youth suffering from social-emotional difficulties, behavior problems and poor academic performance, a school-based mindfulness intervention involving yoga-based movement can be a positive antidote, according to a new study by Tamar Mendelson, PhD, assistant professor in Mental Health.

A pilot randomized-controlled trial conducted in four Baltimore public schools suggests that the 12-week intervention (held four times per week, for 45 minutes each) significantly reduced stress responses such as rumination, intrusive thoughts and emotional arousal. Mindfulness practices may help the students’ ability to regulate thoughts and emotions, says Mendelson.

Her research appeared in the October 2010 issue of the Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology.