Yoga Theses by PhD students
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Yoga Theses by Yoga PhD Students at SVYASA. These pages present some efforts at Scientific Validation of Yoga. You may receive full text of available yoga research papers
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Item SAFE USE OF SCREEN TIME AMONG ADOLESCENTS – A RANDOMIZED CONTROL STUDY FOR EFFICACY OF YOGA(S-VYASA, 2025-10-11) Manisha Mona; Sony Kumari; Nitin AnandBackground: Excessive screen time among adolescents has emerged as a major concern, contributing to negative outcomes such as depression, anxiety, behavioral issues, poor physical health, and diminished cognitive functioning. These include impaired executive functioning, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, and smartphone addiction. The increasing dependency on digital media necessitates effective, holistic interventions. Holistic approaches like yoga may serve as effective interventions by enhancing self-regulation, mental clarity, and physical well-being. Aim: To evaluate the feasibility, efficacy, and validity of yoga-based interventions aimed at managing screen time and associated psychological and physical symptoms in adolescents. Methods: • Study 1: A needs assessment survey was conducted to understand concerns related to excessive screen usage behavior among students, teachers, and parents, with a focus on addressing the health-related impacts on adolescents. • Study 2: A comprehensive yoga module was developed using classical yogic texts and modern scientific literature. The module was reviewed and validated by 26 experienced yoga professors, each with over 10 years of expertise. A feasibility study (pilot study) was conducted to assess the module’s impact on screen time, mental health, and well-being in adolescents, using convenient sampling and non-random group allocation (15 in yoga, 15 in control group). • Study 3: This randomized controlled trial involved 100 schoolchildren aged 13–17 from Endeavour Academy, Bangalore. Participants were randomly assigned to either a yoga group or a control group using an online randomizer, with 50 participants in each. Sample size was calculated using G-Power software based on a prior pilot study, ensuring statistical power. Inclusion criteria focused on adolescents with adequate English skills and willingness to join the yoga program, while exclusions were based on lack of internet access, medical issues, or low screen time. Assessment: For study 1 need assessment survey was conducted based on self-developed google form questionnaire in online mode. For study 2 and study 3 participants were evaluated for Screen Time Use Questionnaire (STQ), WHO-5 Well-being Index, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) for assessing generalized anxiety and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) to assess depressive symptoms, and Smartphone Addiction Scale Short Version (SAS-SV). The questionnaires were administered before and after the duration of the study intervention. Additionally in study 2 Content validity of the yoga module developed for optimizing screen time was assessed using Lawshe’s Content Validity Ratio (CVR) Intervention: The study 1 was survey study. The yoga protocol executed in the study 2 and study 3 (main-study) consisted of shitalikarna vyayama (loosing Exercise), Shavasa prashvasa kriya (breathing practice), asanas (physical postures), relaxation technique (supine position) (QRT with affirmation), pranayama (breathing techniques), meditation, concept of four streams of yoga, sitting position, kriya, and yogic games. The yoga intervention was given 3 days a week, 45 minutes a day, for one months in study 2 and three months in study 3. The digital hygiene educational routine issued by UGC (India) was given to the control group for the equivalent duration as the yoga group in both the study. Results: • Study 1: Highlighted the multidimensional benefits of school-based yoga, as it supports students' physical, emotional, and cognitive well-being, fostering resilience and long term healthy development. Reports the evidences that suggests integrating yoga into school curriculums may be an effective, evidence-based strategy to counter the negative effects of excessive screen time. • Study 2: Six practices were removed due to low CVR scores, and 21 out of 27 validated practices were retained in the final module (CVI = 0.72). Feasibility study for authenticating the developed module showed a significant decrease in screen time (p<0.05) and improvements in anxiety (p<0.01), depression (p<0.001), and well-being (p<0.01) after the 12 sessions of intervention. • Study 3: Reported statistically significant reductions in screen time (p<0.001), smartphone addiction, anxiety (p<0.05), and depressive symptoms (p<0.01) in the yoga group. Substantial improvements were also noted in specific subcategories of screen time within the yoga group, with time spent watching television consistently decreasing across all periods [weekdays (p<0.01), weeknights (p<0.001), weekends (p<0.05)]. Conclusion: Yoga interventions significantly reduce excessive screen use and related health complications in adolescents. Incorporating yoga into school curricula offers a preventive and restorative approach to fostering balanced development. Continued research is recommended to further explore its long-term impact and application in broader educational and clinical settings. Keywords: Screen time, adolescents, yoga intervention, mental health, and smartphone addiction, school curriculum, mindfulness.Item Cross-sectional comparative study of yoga delivery: Remote and in-person in demographics of India (East) & North America (West)(S-VYASA, 2025-06-19) Sanjay Gupta; Sony KumariBACKGROUND As an increasingly recognized complementary healthcare approach, yoga demonstrates efficacy in managing a wide range of health issues, including chronic pain, diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, and mental health concerns such as anxiety and depression. With the global popularity of Hatha yoga and lifestyle shifts, yoga has transitioned into mainstream health care and wellness practices. Despite its benefits, integrating yoga into conventional healthcare remains challenging owing to the diversity in practice styles, demographic variability, and limited standardization of research methods and outcomes. The shift to digital platforms accelerated by the pandemic has transformed yoga’s accessibility and adaptability, allowing practitioners to engage remotely. However, remote yoga delivery raises concerns regarding consistency, reliability, and authenticity compared with traditional in-person sessions. Given these complexities, this study investigated the comparability and efficacy of remote versus in-person yoga across three key dimensions: authenticity, deliverability, effectiveness of delivery structure, and content inclusiveness. By examining these aspects across culturally distinct populations in North America (West) and India (East), this study provides insights into the potential of remote yoga for healthcare integration, emphasizing the need for structured, culturally adaptive approaches to enhance reliability and usability in various healthcare settings. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of remote yoga delivery compared to in-person practices in supporting health and wellness across diverse global populations. Specifically, it seeks to identify critical factors in authenticity, delivery, usability structure, and content inclusiveness that influence the quality and effectiveness of remote yoga as a reliable and effective healthcare practice. By addressing demographic and cultural differences, this study also explored delivery variability and the reliability of yoga interventions in aligning with healthcare needs. METHODS Participants: The study involved a culturally diverse sample of participants from North America (Western population) and India (Eastern population), representing a cross section of yoga practitioners engaging in both remote and in-person settings. Design: A cross-sectional mixed-method design was employed, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The quantitative component compared remote and in-person yoga practices, whereas the qualitative analysis explored expert insights into remote yoga authenticity and the delivery gaps between these methodologies. Assessments: Telehealth Usability Questionnaire (TUQ), Essential Properties of Yoga Questionnaire (EPYQ) and a Qualitative Interview of yoga experts Intervention: No Intervention was provided RESULTS Qualitative analysis revealed that 90% of experts regarded traditional in-person yoga as the gold standard for authentic practice, deeply rooted in traditions, discipline, and the Guru-Shishya Parampara, which remote delivery models cannot fully replicate. However, there is strong consensus on the positive impact and growing significance of remote yoga, particularly its ability to enhance global accessibility through advancements in technology and refined delivery methodologies. Experts have also highlighted the potential to effectively address global health challenges. Although remote yoga may not entirely match the depth of in-person practice, it serves as a powerful and accessible alternative for practitioners worldwide.Item Effect of short duration integrated classroom yoga module on physical fitness, cognitive performance, emotional well being and personality characteristic measures of school children(SVYASA, 2022-05-13) ATUL SINHA; Sony KumariTwo themes in children’s education have received a great deal of attention in the last few decades. One concerns the stresses children face, leading to a high prevalence of child and adolescent mental health (CAMH) issues. The other is a disturbing trend in dysfunctional youth behavior. These themes have led thinkers to advocate giving weightage to social emotional learning (SEL), educating the whole child and focusing on character education along with academic knowledge. This thinking reflects, to a large extent, the Indian ethos of education, as articulated by thinkers like Swami Vivekananda and J Krishnamurti, and, as seen in the ancient Indian gurukula system of education. The present study hypothesized that the purpose of equipping children with the power of concentration, SEL and good character may be well served by meaningfully integrating yoga with education. Its purpose was threefold: 1. To build a theoretical model of yoga in education based on ancient yogic knowledge and modern scientific research. 2. To develop and validate a school-based short duration Integrated Classroom Yoga Module (ICYM). The present study observed that though schools were aware of the benefits of yoga, most had either not incorporated yoga in the school curriculum or had done so sub-optimally, usually one class a week. The reasons ranged from lack of time, a packed schedule and the need for resources like yoga rooms, yoga mats and trained yoga instructors. An efficacious short duration ICYM could potentially overcome such challenges and pave the way for yoga’s inclusion in the daily schedule. 3. To provide empirical evidence of the effect of the short duration ICYM on physical fitness, cognitive performance, emotional well-being and personality characteristic measures of school children through a methodologically rigorous study.Item Impact of Karma Yoga on Job Satisfaction Job involvement & Motivation in Business Development Professionals(SVYASA, 2022-02-03) DEEPAK B. V.; Sony Kumari; K. B. Akhilesh