MSCYT Dissertations (Yoga Therapy)
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Yoga Dissertations by Yoga Students at SVYASA. These pages present some efforts of SVYASA at Scientific Validation of Yoga, combining the best of the East with the best of the West
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Yoga Dissertations by MSc Students
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Item EFFECT OF INTEGRATED APPROACH OF YOGA THERAPY ON THE PAIN, DEPRESSION, KOOS AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN OSTEOARTHRITIS PARTICIPANTS(S-VYASA, 2025-08-19) Ved Prakash Yadav; Rajesh NairBACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent degenerative joint disorder, particularly affecting weight-bearing joints like the knee. Chronic pain, stiffness, reduced joint function, and psychological consequences such as depression and anxiety severely affect the quality of life (QoL) in OA patients. (David J Hunter, 2019) Complementary interventions like yoga therapy are gaining clinical attention due to their holistic effects. Yoga’s mind-body approach integrates physical postures (āsana), controlled breathing (prāṇāyāma), meditation (dhyāna), and lifestyle principles that impact both physical and mental well-being. (Carly M Drzewiecki et.al, 2021). Conventional management strategies, such as pharmacotherapy and surgery, offer limited long-term relief and may cause adverse effects, prompting interest in complementary therapies like yoga(Geoffrey M Currie et.al, 2019). Yoga, which includes gentle movements, breathing exercises, and relaxation, has shown promise in reducing pain and improving mood and physical function in people with knee osteoarthritis there is growing interest in complementary approaches such as yoga which combines physical postures, breathing technique , meditation and lifestyle education (Deepeshwar S et.al, 2018). Yoga may work by lowering inflammation, improving muscle strength and balance, and calming stress responses in the body(Bandita Adhikari et.al, 2022) Yoga, a non pharmacological treatment approach, has been recommended for osteoarthritis by an international osteoarthritis clinical guideline in 2019 and some studies have also proposed yoga as a beneficial practice for people with arthritis AIM: This study was aimed at observing the effect of an integrated approach of yoga therapy on the pain, depression, Koos, and quality of life in osteoarthritis participants OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY: To assess the effect of IAYT on; ● Pain associated with the osteo arthritis condition ● Knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome Score ● Depression ● Quality of life METHODS: Participiants: Subjects (n = 46) identified with osteoarthritis, meeting inclusion and exclusion criteria were recruited from the Arogyadhama (a holistic yoga hospital, practicing integrated yoga therapy, associated with S-VYASA) section treating osteoarithritis. Design: This was a single-group pre–post study involving 46 participants diagnosed with osteoarthritis. Assessments: In this study, we assessed variables like Pain, Knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome Score, Depression, Anxiety, Stress and Quality of Life. Intervention: Integrated Approach of Yoga Therapy (IAYT) for two weeks with one month follow-up. RESULTS: Significant improvements were observed in pain levels (p < .001, d = 0.935), depression (p < .001, d = 0.892), anxiety (p < .001), stress (p < .001), and environmental quality of life (p = .024). KOOS subdomains like knee symptoms, sport and recreation function, and daily living activities also showed marked improvement. However, no significant changes were observed in the physical, psychological, and social domains of QoL, or pain-related QoL scores. CONCLUSION: The integrated approach of yoga therapy significantly reduced pain, depression, anxiety, and stress among participants with osteoarthritis, alongside improvements in specific domains of the KOOS and environmental quality of life. However, no significant changes were observed in the physical, psychological, or social domains of overall quality of life. These findings suggest that yoga may serve as an effective complementary therapy in managing osteoarthritis symptoms and improving certain aspects of well-being, although further research with larger samples and control groups is warranted to confirm and extend these results. KEYWORDS: Osteoarthritis, yoga, quality of life, psychological wellbeingItem EFFECT OF YOGA ON CREATIVE THINKING IN MIDDLE SCHOOL RESIDENTIAL STUDENT(S-VYASA, 2025-08-19) Smita Rani; Rajesh NairBACKGROUND: In today’s fast-changing world, creativity is essential for children to think flexibly, solve problems, and express themselves. However, studies report a decline in creativity during middle school, known as the “fourth-grade slump” (Torrance, 1967), often due to rigid academic routines and social pressures. Yoga, in which practices like asanas, pranayama, and mindful relaxation, and meditation have shown promise in improving focus, emotional balance, and brain function. Emerging research suggests yoga may also enhance creativity by reducing stress and supporting cognitive flexibility in young learners. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the effects of a structured yoga program on divergent thinking and creativity among middle school residential students. METHODS: A single-group pre-post design was employed. Forty healthy students aged 11–15 from PM SHRI Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Godda (Jharkhand, India) participated in a four week intervention comprising daily one-hour sessions of Asanas, Pranayama, Deep Relaxation Techniques, and Krida Yoga. Creativity was assessed using standardized measures evaluating Originality, Fluency, Flexibility, Verbal creativity, Non-verbal creativity, and Total creativity. RESULTS: Post-intervention scores showed statistically significant improvements in originality (P < .001; Cohen’s d = 0.9), verbal creativity (P < .001; d = 0.8), total creativity (P < .001; d = 0.8), fluency (P = .002; d = 0.5), and flexibility (P = .002; d = 0.6). No significant change was found in non-verbal creativity (P = 0.198; d = 0.2). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that regular yoga practice positively influences divergent thinking and creativity in middle school students. Yoga enhanced verbal creativity and cognitive flexibility, supporting its integration in educational settings. This highlights yoga’s potential as a holistic tool to foster students’ creative abilities, emotional balance, and mental well-being. Keywords: Yoga, Creativity, Divergent Thinking, Creative Thinking, Children, Verbal creativity, Cognitive Flexibility, EducationItem EFFECT OF YOGA ON PHYSIOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL PARAMETERS RELATED TO OBESE CONDITION AND THE WELLBEING OF PARTICIPANTS AFFECTED BY OBESITY(S-VYASA, 2025-08-19) Jinal Mokariya; Rajesh NairBACKGROUND Obesity, a global health crisis, has tripled since 1975 due to sedentary lifestyles, poor diets, and stress, leading to conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and depression. Conventional treatments often neglect psychological roots. This dissertation explores Yoga as a holistic intervention, focusing on the Integrated Approach of Yoga Therapy (IAYT). Through structured hospital-based programs, it assesses improvements in BMI, blood pressure, sleep, self-esteem, and emotional well being. Yoga’s mind-body practices offer a low-cost, accessible solution, especially vital for countries like India. The study aims to evaluate yoga’s potential as a sustainable model for both physical and psychological rehabilitation in obesity management. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES This study aims to evaluate the impact of the Integrated Approach of Yoga Therapy (IAYT) on the physiological and psychological parameters of individuals with obesity. As part of that, this study assessed the effect of IAYT on Body Mass Index (BMI), Blood Pressure, Sleep quality, Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in people suffering from obesity. METHODS Participant: A total of 52 participants aged between 25 and 60 years, clinically diagnosed with obesity (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²), were selected using convenient sampling from Aarogyadhama, a yoga therapy hospital under S-VYASA University. Design: This study followed a single-group pre-post design Assessments: In this study, we assessed Body Mass Index (BMI), Blood Pressure (SBP & DBP), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS), WHO Quality of Life-BREF (Physical, Psychological, Social, Environmental) 1 Intervention: An integrated approach of yoga therapy (IAYT) program was administered for 2 weeks. The intervention included specific asanas (postures), pranayama (breathing techniques), kriyas (cleansing techniques), relaxation methods, and lifestyle modifications, including a special diet. Participants were guided regularly to maintain consistency and adherence to the protocol. Results: Participants showed significant improvements in various physical and psychological parameters, particularly in reduction of body weight, BMI, and improvements in sleep quality, stress levels, and overall well-being. Conclusions: IAYT was found to be effective in reducing obesity and improving physiological and psychological health markers when practiced consistently. It is a safe, holistic, and non pharmacological approach for managing lifestyle disorders like obesity.Item EFFECT OF CYCLIC MEDITATION ON STRESS LEVELS, ANXIETY, AND DEPRESSION IN HIGHER SECONDARY STUDENTS(S-VYASA, 2025-08-19) Tanisha Gupta; Rajesh NairBACKGROUND In the current educational landscape, higher secondary students often grapple with immense academic pressures, peer expectations, and future uncertainties. These stressors have led to an alarming rise in psychological concerns such as stress, anxiety, and depression among adolescents, often compromising their academic performance and overall well-being. Addressing these issues through holistic and accessible practices has become increasingly necessary. One such intervention is Cyclic Meditation (CM), a structured yogic technique that blends physical postures with deep relaxation to regulate mental and emotional health. Though previous research has demonstrated CM’s benefits in adult populations, its application and effectiveness among school-going adolescents remain underexplored. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES This study aims to assess the effect of cyclic meditation on the stress, anxiety, and depression of higher secondary students. METHODS Participants and design A total of 62 school Students from VPS High School in Lonavala, Maharashtra, aged 15-18 years. This study will follow a single-group pre-post design. Assessments: Stress: Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) Anxiety: Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21(DASS-21 Depression: Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21(DASS-21 Sleep Quality: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) vi Intervention: Intervention (Cyclic Meditation practice) will be of the duration of 40 minutes and 5 days/week, for one month. CM consists of various steps like IRT (1Min), Centering, Ardhakati chakrasana, QRT (3Min), Vajrasana, Shashankasana, Ustrasana, DRT (14 Min) Results: Statistical analysis revealed significant improvements in three of the four targeted domains: Perceived stress levels decreased substantially (p < .001, Cohen’s d = 1.60), Depression scores showed a significant reduction (p < .001, d = 1.01), Anxiety levels dropped significantly (p < .001, d = 1.00), Sleep quality improved markedly (p < .001, d = 0.74). However, the DASS-21 stress subscale did not show statistically significant improvement (p = 0.108), possibly due to the instrument's sensitivity or the intervention duration. Conclusions: The findings suggest that Cyclic Meditation is an effective intervention for reducing perceived stress, anxiety, and depression, while simultaneously enhancing sleep quality among higher secondary students. Given its accessibility and holistic nature, CM can be feasibly integrated into school wellness programs. Future studies with control groups, longer follow-up periods, and diverse populations are recommended to further validate and expand upon these promising outcomes. Keywords: Cyclic Meditation, Yoga, School students, Stress, Sleep quality, Anxiety, Depression