What the Research Shows
A comprehensive systematic review analyzing 27 studies involving children and adolescents with varying health statuses found promising results:
- Overall, 70% of studies showed improvements in symptoms of anxiety and/or depression
- For anxiety specifically, 70% of studies showed reductions in anxiety symptoms
- For depression, 40% of studies focusing solely on depression showed improvements
- For both conditions together, 58% of studies showed reductions in both anxiety and depression symptoms
Perhaps most importantly, these benefits appeared across diverse populations..
What Makes Yoga Different?
Yoga isn't just stretching. The studies reviewed utilized various combinations of four key elements:
- Physical postures (the foundation present in all studies)
- Breathing exercises (pranayama)
- Meditation/mindfulness
- Relaxation techniques
Some programs also incorporated visualization, discussion groups, and age-appropriate games. The beauty is that yoga appears to work regardless of the specific combination used—as long as physical postures are included.
The Practical Takeaway for Parents
Yoga appears most effective when:
- Practiced for at least 30 minutes
- Done 2-3 times per week
- Continued for 6-12 weeks
- Incorporating physical postures along with breathing, meditation, or relaxation
Getting Started
Chirpy Yoga 1 - Bedtime reset
This 8 minute free yoga flow from Carly is perfect to get busy heads more zen for bedtime - good for grown-ups too.
Chirpy Yoga 2 - Stretch and Release
This 10 minute free yoga flow from Carly is ideal for releasing tension from the body at the end of the day, helping you prepare for a restful night.
