Effects of Breathwork During a Posture-Based Yoga Session on Psychological Resources and Emotional Experience

Abstract

Research indicates that there are both mental and physical benefits to yoga participation. However, to date, there has been very little research on understanding which component(s) of yoga are responsible for these positive outcomes. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the unique influence of guided breathwork during a standard posture-based yoga class on the affective state and psychological resources of healthy adults who were new to yoga. Thirty-nine participants were randomly assigned to complete a 60-minute, beginner, posture-based Hatha yoga class that either did or did not include guided breathwork. Questionnaires assessing affect (i.e., overall affect, positive engagement, revitalization, tranquility, and physical exhaustion), anxiety, and psychological resources (i.e., mindfulness, social connectedness, spirituality, body consciousness, and self-transcendence) were completed before and after the class. The sample was majority female (65%) and Caucasian (69%) with a mean age of 19.74±1.31 years. There were no significant differences between the groups except for an increase in positive engagement in the postures only class relative to the postures plus breathing class (p = 0.022), which was contrary to the hypothesis. Regardless of group assignment, significant improvements were found for all affect measures and two psychological resources (mindfulness and spirituality) pre- to post-class (p’s = <.001). Social connectedness significantly decreased (p = 0.03) over time. The findings suggest that 15-minutes of breathwork during a single session of posture-based Hatha yoga does not provide added psychological benefits. More research is needed to fully understand how the individual characteristics of yoga influence intervention outcomes.