title: Effects of a classroom-based yoga intervention on cortisol and behavior in second- and third-grade students: a pilot study.
abstract: This uncontrolled pilot study examined the effects of a classroom-based yoga intervention on cortisol concentrations and perceived behavior in children. A 10-week Yoga 4 Classrooms intervention was implemented in one second-grade and one third-grade classroom. Students' salivary cortisol responses were assessed at 3 time points. Classroom teachers also documented their perceptions of the effects of the intervention on students' cognitive, social, and emotional skills. Second, but not third, graders showed a significant decrease in baseline cortisol from before to after the intervention. Second and third graders both showed significant decreases in cortisol from before to after a cognitive task, but neither grade showed additional decreases from before to after a single yoga class. The second-grade teacher perceived significant improvements in several aspects his/her students' behavior. The third-grade teacher perceived some, but fewer, improvements in his/her students' behavior. Results suggest that school-based yoga may be advantageous for stress management and behavior.
authors.affiliation: Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA butzer@research.bwh.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Bethany
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Butzer
authors.affiliation: University of Massachusetts-Lowell, Lowell, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Day
authors.affiliation: University of Massachusetts-Lowell, Lowell, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Potts
authors.affiliation: University of Massachusetts-Lowell, Lowell, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Connor
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.affiliation: University of Massachusetts-Lowell, Lowell, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Coulombe
authors.affiliation: University of Massachusetts-Lowell, Lowell, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Brandie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.affiliation: University of Massachusetts-Lowell, Lowell, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Weidknecht
authors.affiliation: Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ebert
authors.affiliation: ChildLight Yoga and Yoga 4 Classrooms, Dover, NH, USA.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Flynn
authors.affiliation: Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Sat Bir S
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Khalsa
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis*; D008281:Maine; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D012574:Schools; D013334:Students; D015013:Yoga
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: behavior; cortisol; school; stress; yoga