Learn More About the Research Behind Yoga Play Kit:

Mindfulness:

  • Treves, I.N. et al (2022). Mindfulness supports emotional resilience in children during the COVID-19 Pandemic. medRxiv.

  • Bauer, C. C. C., Rozenkrantz, L., et al. (2020). Mindfulness training preserves sustained attention and resting state anticorrelation between default-mode network and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex: A randomized controlled trial. Human brain mapping, 41(18), 5356–5369.

  • Bauer, C. C. C. et al. (2019). Mindfulness training reduces stress and amygdala reactivity to fearful faces in middle-school children. Behavioral neuroscience, 133(6), 569–585.

  • Zhang, W., Wang, M. & Ying, L. (2019). Parental Mindfulness and Preschool Children’s Emotion Regulation: the Role of Mindful Parenting and Secure Parent-Child Attachment. Mindfulness 10, 2481–2491.

  • Semple, R. J., Lee, J., Rosa, D., & Miller, L. F. (2010). A randomized trial of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for children: promoting mindful attention to enhance social-emotional resiliency in children. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 19(2), 218–229.

  • Schonert-Reichl, K. A. et al. (2015). Enhancing cognitive and social–emotional development through a simple-to-administer mindfulness-based school program for elementary school children: A randomized controlled trial. Developmental Psychology, 51(1), 52-66

  • Schonert-Reichl, K. A. et al. (2015). Enhancing cognitive and social–emotional development through a simple-to-administer mindfulness-based school program for elementary school children: A randomized controlled trial. Developmental Psychology, 51(1), 52-66.

  • Semple, R. J., Lee, J., Rosa, D., & Miller, L. F. (2010). A randomized trial of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for children: promoting mindful attention to enhance social-emotional resiliency in children. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 19(2), 218–229.

  • Marusek, H.A, Elrahal, F., Peters, C.A. (2018) Mindfulness and dynamic functional neural connectivity in children and adolescents.Behavioural Brain Research, 336:211-218. 

  • Dunning DL, Griffiths K, Kuyken W, Crane C, Foulkes L, Parker J, Dalgleish T. (2019). Research Review: The effects of mindfulness-based interventions on cognition and mental health in children and adolescents - a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Child Psychol Psychiatry.

  • Sevinc G. et al. (2020). Hippocampal circuits underlie improvements in self‐reported anxiety following mindfulness training. Brain and Behavior. ;10 (9) :e01766

  • Flook, L., Goldberg, S. B., Pinger, L. J., & Davidson, R. J. (2015). Promoting prosocial behavior and self-regulatory skills in preschool children through a mindfulness-based kindness curriculum. Developmental Psychology, 51(1), 44–51.

  • Mathur, M., Kerr, B. R., Babal, J. C., Eickhoff, J. C., Coller, R. J., & Moreno, M. A. (2021). US Parents' Acceptance of Learning About Mindfulness Practices for Parents and Children: National Cross-sectional Survey. JMIR pediatrics and parenting, 4(4), e30242.

  • Lebuda I, et al. (2015). Mind full of ideas: A meta-analysis of the mindfulness–creativity link.

    Music & Rhythm:

  • Bolduc et al. (2008)The Effects of Music Instruction on Emergent Literacy Capacities among Preschool Children: A Literature Review. Early Childhood Research & Practice, v10 n1.

  • Williams KE, Berthelsen D. ( 2019). Implementation of a rhythm and movement intervention to support self-regulation skills of preschool-aged children in disadvantaged communities. Psychology of Music.;47(6):800-820.

  • Miendlarzewska, E. A., & Trost, W. J. (2014). How musical training affects cognitive development: rhythm, reward and other modulating variables. Frontiers in neuroscience, 7, 279.

    Breathing:

  • Balban, M. Y., Neri, E., Kogon, M. M., Weed, L., Nouriani, B., Jo, B., ... & Huberman, A. D. (2023). Brief structured respiration practices enhance mood and reduce physiological arousal. Cell Reports Medicine, 4(1).

  • Ma, X., Yue, Z. Q., Gong, Z. Q., Zhang, H., Duan, N. Y., Shi, Y. T., Wei, G. X., & Li, Y. F. (2017). The Effect of Diaphragmatic Breathing on Attention, Negative Affect and Stress in Healthy Adults. Frontiers in psychology, 8, 874.

  • Obradović, J., *Sulik, M. J., & *Armstrong-Carter, E. (2021). Taking a few deep breaths significantly reduces children's physiological arousal in everyday settings: Results of a preregistered video intervention. Developmental Psychobiology, 63.

  • Khng, Fannie Kiat Hui. (2016). A better state-of-mind: deep breathing reduces state anxiety and enhances test performance through regulating test cognitions in children. Cognition and Emotion. 31. 1-9.

  • Ashhad, S., Kam, K., Del Negro, C. A., & Feldman, J. L. (2022). Breathing Rhythm and Pattern and Their Influence on Emotion. Annual review of neuroscience, 45, 223–247.

  • Del Negro, C. A., Funk, G. D., & Feldman, J. L. (2018). Breathing matters. Nature reviews. Neuroscience, 19(6), 351–367.

    Yoga:

  • Afonso, R. F. et al. (2017). Greater Cortical Thickness in Elderly Female Yoga Practitioners-A Cross-Sectional Study. Frontiers in aging neuroscience, 9, 201.

  • Streeter, C. C. et al. (2020). Thalamic Gamma Aminobutyric Acid Level Changes in Major Depressive Disorder After a 12-Week Iyengar Yoga and Coherent Breathing Intervention. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.), 26(3), 190–197.

  • Dongdong Jiang, Zongyu Liu,  Guoxiao Sun. (2021). The Effect of Yoga Meditation Practice on Young Adults’ Inhibitory Control: An fNIRS Study. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. Sec. Cognitive Neuroscience https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2021.725233

  • Nanthakumar C. (2018). The benefits of yoga in children. Journal of integrative medicine, 16(1), 14–19.

  • Kaur, M., & Bhat, A. (2019). Creative Yoga Intervention Improves Motor and Imitation Skills of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Physical therapy, 99(11), 1520–1534.

  • James-Palmer, A., Anderson, E. Z., Zucker, L., Kofman, Y., & Daneault, J. F. (2020). Yoga as an Intervention for the Reduction of Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review. Frontiers in pediatrics, 8, 78.

  • Diamond, A., & Lee, K. (2011). Interventions shown to aid executive function development in children 4 to 12 years old. Science (New York, N.Y.), 333(6045), 959–964.

  • Rashedi, R. N., Rowe, S. E., Thompson, R. A., Solari, E. J., & Schonert-Reichl, K. A. (2021). A Yoga Intervention for Young Children: Self-Regulation and Emotion Regulation. Journal of child and family studies, 30(8), 2028–2041.

  • Kanhere, S. V., Bagadia, D. R., Phadke, V. D., & Mukherjee, P. S. (2018). Yoga in Children with Epilepsy: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of pediatric neurosciences, 13(4), 410–415.

  • Hagen, I., & Nayar, U. S. (2014). Yoga for Children and Young People's Mental Health and Well-Being: Research Review and Reflections on the Mental Health Potentials of Yoga. Frontiers in psychiatry, 5, 35.

  • Hagen, I., Skjelstad, S., & Nayar, U. S. (2021). "I Just Find It Easier to Let Go of Anger": Reflections on the Ways in Which Yoga Influences How Young People Manage Their Emotions. Frontiers in psychology, 12, 729588.

  • Shohani, M., Badfar, G., Nasirkandy, M. P., Kaikhavani, S., Rahmati, S., Modmeli, Y., Soleymani, A., & Azami, M. (2018). The Effect of Yoga on Stress, Anxiety, and Depression in Women. International journal of preventive medicine, 9, 21.

    Meditation:

  • Killingsworth, M. A., & Gilbert, D. T. (2010). A wandering mind is an unhappy mind. Science (New York, N.Y.), 330(6006), 932.

  • Basso, J. C., McHale, A., Ende, V., Oberlin, D. J., & Suzuki, W. A. (2019). Brief, daily meditation enhances attention, memory, mood, and emotional regulation in non-experienced meditators. Behavioural brain research, 356, 208–220.

  • Desbordes, G., Negi, L. T., Pace, T. W., Wallace, B. A., Raison, C. L., & Schwartz, E. L. (2012). Effects of mindful-attention and compassion meditation training on amygdala response to emotional stimuli in an ordinary, non-meditative state. Frontiers in human neuroscience, 6, 292.

  • Behan C. (2020). The benefits of meditation and mindfulness practices during times of crisis such as COVID-19. Irish journal of psychological medicine, 37(4), 256–258.

  • Edwards MK, et al. (2018). Differential experimental effects of a short bout of walking, meditation, or combination of walking and meditation on state anxiety among young adults.

  • Goyal, M. et al. (2014). Meditation programs for psychological stress and well-being: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA internal medicine, 174(3), 357–368.

  • Rosenkranz MA, Davidson RJ, Maccoon DG, Sheridan JF, Kalin NH, Lutz A. (2013) A comparison of mindfulness-based stress reduction and an active control in modulation of neurogenic inflammation. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. 27(1):174-84.

  • Hilton, L., Maher, A. R., Colaiaco, B., Apaydin, E., Sorbero, M. E., Booth, M., Shanman, R. M., & Hempel, S. (2017). Meditation for posttraumatic stress: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychological trauma : theory, research, practice and policy, 9(4), 453–460

  • Aman, M. M., Jason Yong, R., Kaye, A. D., & Urman, R. D. (2018). Evidence-Based Non-Pharmacological Therapies for Fibromyalgia. Current pain and headache reports, 22(5), 33.

  • Rod K. (2015). Observing the Effects of Mindfulness-Based Meditation on Anxiety and Depression in Chronic Pain Patients. Psychiatria Danubina, 27 Suppl 1, S209–S211.

  • Hofmann, S. G., & Gómez, A. F. (2017). Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Anxiety and Depression. The Psychiatric clinics of North America, 40(4), 739–749.

  • Hoge, E. A., et al. (2013). Randomized controlled trial of mindfulness meditation for generalized anxiety disorder: effects on anxiety and stress reactivity. The Journal of clinical psychiatry, 74(8), 786–792.

  • Orme-Johnson, D. W., & Barnes, V. A. (2014). Effects of the transcendental meditation technique on trait anxiety: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.), 20(5), 330–341.

  • Bostock, S., Crosswell, A. D., Prather, A. A., & Steptoe, A. (2019). Mindfulness on-the-go: Effects of a mindfulness meditation app on work stress and well-being. Journal of occupational health psychology, 24(1), 127–138.

  • Goyal, M. S. et al. (2014). Meditation programs for psychological stress and well-being: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA internal medicine, 174(3), 357–368.