The Impact of Yoga on Athletes' Mental Well-Being: An Experimental Study.
Cureus August 1, 2024 Priyanka Saraswati, Satish Kanaujia, Bhuwan Chandra Kapri
A six-week yoga program involving pranayama and meditation improved sleep quality, reduced stress and anxiety, increased mindfulness, and decreased psychological rigidity and experience avoidance in recreational athletes aged 18 to 45. The study included 44 athletes from Banaras Hindu University, most of whom were male and had over two years of sports experience. Significant pre- to post-intervention differences were observed across all measured outcomes, including stress, sleep, anxiety, mindfulness, psychological rigidity, and experience avoidance. Stress alleviation and reduced anxiety were the strongest predictors of improved psychological flexibility.