Effects of yoga practice on perceived stress levels and mindfulness during the COVID-19 pandemic: pilot study with college students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2176-7262.rmrp.2025.220695Keywords:
Yoga, Stress, Psychological, Mindfulness, COVID-19, Pilot ProjectsAbstract
Introduction: Yoga constitutes an integrative health therapy executed through bodily practices encompassing diverse elements, including physical movements, breathing exercises, and meditation practices. Objective: to evaluate the effects of a 12-week face-to-face yoga intervention on perceived stress and mindfulness. Method: a prospective, open-label pre-post intervention design was conducted from September to November 2022, with a sample of university students. Participants practiced yoga twice a week for 12 weeks. The assessments were performed using the Perceived Stress Scale and the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire before the intervention (T1) and two weeks after its conclusion (T2) in Goiás, Brazil. Results: There was a significant decrease in perceived stress after yoga. Regarding mindfulness, there was a substantial increase in facets 3 (Acting with awareness) and 4 (non-judging). Despite not showing a significant increase, the general mindfulness score and facets 2 (Describing) and 5 (do not react) showed an average effect size of the difference between the averages after the yoga intervention. There were negative and significant correlations between perceived stress and general mindfulness scores: Facets 1 (observe), 3 (Acting), and 4 (not judged). Conclusion: Yoga practices emerged as an essential integrative instrument for reducing perceived stress and increasing mindfulness during critical periods, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Elton Brás Camargo Júnior, Thallita Caroline Cassiano Gouvea, Isis de São Paulo Dragaud, Danilo Guimaraes Almeida, Gilson Gonçalves Silva, Maria Neyrian de Fatima Fernandes, Edilaine Cristina da Silva Gherardi-Donato
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