To enhance wellness with mindful yoga: A pilot randomized controlled trial

This study aims to examine the effectiveness of an 8-week mindful yoga program in reducing loneliness in healthy undergraduates in Hong Kong. 15 college students were recruited and randomly assigned to either the mindful yoga (YA, n = 8) or active control group (AC, n = 7) focusing on the training of flexibility and strength without an emphasis on mindfulness. Participants filled out an online questionnaire consisting of scales tapping loneliness, mindfulness (acceptance without judgment), and positive and negative affects before the commencement and after the end of training. Results indicated that loneliness was significantly reduced in the YA group from pre- to post-training, t(4) = 2.16, p < 0.05. However, no significant change in mindfulness was observed. Despite the limitation in sample size, findings of this pilot study could serve as a preliminary basis to examine the effect of mindful yoga in clinical or sub-clinical populations.